Compare towns
Bourne vs Lee vs Buzzards Bay
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 most kids (12.6% under 18).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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 | Buzzards Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,806Lowest |
5,719Highest |
2,909 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
54.4±5.9Lowest 36% 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%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Lee and Buzzards Bay 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% |
32.3%±5.2Lowest 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% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,847±$32kHighest 6% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
| Bourne and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Lee 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 |
$3,980Highest 34% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Buzzards Bay 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% |
7.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±20.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Bourne and Buzzards Bay 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| 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.