What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).

Amesbury has the most kids (20% 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	Amesbury
People
Population	20,323Highest	17,403Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	52±1.8Highest 30% above MA	43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46%Highest MA: 47.3%	44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bourne and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA	$103,554±$12kHighest about the MA average
	Amesbury and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average	$519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA
	Bourne and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA	$1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA
	Amesbury and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,485Lowest 25% below MA	$7,360Highest 23% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Amesbury and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%	7.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.4%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Amesbury 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	#151 of 282 in MA
School district	Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical	Amesbury
High school in town	Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical	Amesbury High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	10.9Highest
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.