Compare towns

Bourne vs Bernardston vs Mashpee

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 people working from home (14.9%).
Bernardston has the most affordable homes ($332k median).
Mashpee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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.

MeasureBourneBernardstonMashpee
People
Population
20,323Highest
2,164Lowest
15,384
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%
MA: +7.4%
-1.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52±1.8
30% above MA
49±3.2Lowest
23% above MA
55.9±1.8Highest
40% above MA
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
17.6%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
14.7%±2.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Bernardston and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.8%±3.1
MA: 17.9%
22.9%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
33.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Mashpee and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46%Highest
MA: 47.3%
29.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
44.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.6%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±2.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
Bourne and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,058±$7k
12% below MA
$81,940±$10kLowest
21% below MA
$95,299±$13kHighest
8% below MA
Mashpee 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
$332,000±$15kLowest
41% below MA
$562,200±$29k
about the MA average
Bourne and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,379±$300
22% below MA
$1,283±$553Lowest
27% below MA
$1,776±$330Highest
about the MA average
Mashpee and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,485
25% below MA
$4,516Highest
25% below MA
$3,762Lowest
37% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.8%±5.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
41.2%±15.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
44.7%±14.5
MA: 51.8%
Bourne and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Highest
MA: 10%
5.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
77.9%
MA: 62.5%
81.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1972Lowest
8 yrs newer than MA
1988Highest
24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
11% below MA
20 minLowest
33% below MA
27 minHighest
6% below MA
Work from home
14.9%±3.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.7%±6.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14.5%±3
MA: 18.6%
Bourne and Mashpee 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 — #100 of 282 in MA
School district Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical Pioneer Valley Mashpee
High school in town Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical None in town Mashpee Middle-High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Highest
—
9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.