Compare towns
Bourne vs Lee vs Bourne vs Wareham
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 most expensive homes ($736k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Bourne has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Bourne | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,806Lowest |
5,719 |
20,323 |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
52±1.8Lowest 30% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
| Bourne and Lee 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%±5 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Bourne and Wareham 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%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Lee 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% MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Wareham 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±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
| Bourne 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±$156kHighest 31% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
| Bourne and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
| Wareham and Bourne 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 |
$4,485Highest 25% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne 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% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±20.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bourne and Lee 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lee | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Wareham |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
9.8Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.