Compare towns
Bourne vs Lee vs Ashfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bourne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Lee | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,806Lowest |
5,719Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
55.2±5.8Lowest 38% above MA |
58.6±3.4 47% above MA |
| Bourne and Ashfield 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% |
12.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Lee and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±7 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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±$32kHighest 6% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
| Bourne and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $735,500±$156kHighest 31% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Lee and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,835Lowest 36% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±20.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Bourne 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Lee | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.