What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bourne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bourne	Middlefield
People
Population	1,806Highest	352Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA	56.9±3.7Lowest 42% above MA
	Bourne and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	6.1%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bourne and Middlefield 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%	28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Bourne and Middlefield 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%	31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±7Highest MA: 7.9%	2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bourne and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,847±$32kLowest 6% below MA	$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average
	Middlefield 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	$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,625±$1k 49% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,835Lowest 36% below MA	$4,926Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Middlefield and Bourne 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%	12.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 24% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	19.3%±20.2Highest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Bourne and Middlefield 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	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.