Compare towns
Bourne vs Lawrence vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bourne has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Nahant has the highest household income ($113k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bourne | Lawrence | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,806Lowest |
88,736Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
60.7±2.9 52% above MA |
| Bourne and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.5% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,847±$32k 6% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$112,762±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
| Nahant and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $735,500±$156k 31% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
| Nahant and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
| Nahant and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,835 36% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±20.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Bourne and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #206 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lawrence | Nahant |
| High school in town | — | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.