What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bourne has the most expensive homes ($736k median).

Salisbury has the most kids (13.1% under 18).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	1,806Lowest	9,281Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA	51.3±3.5Lowest 28% above MA
Kids under 18	6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Salisbury and Bourne 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%	25.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±7Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury 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	$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA
	Bourne and Salisbury 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	$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,691±$411 4% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,835Lowest 36% below MA	$4,604Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury 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%	5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 24% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	19.3%±20.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Triton
High school in town	—	None in town
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.