Compare towns

Bourne vs Buzzards Bay 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Mashpee has the most homeowners (81.9%).

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.

MeasureBourneBuzzards BayMashpee
People
Population
20,323Highest
2,909Lowest
15,384
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+10.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52±1.8Lowest
30% above MA
54.4±5.9
36% above MA
55.9±1.8Highest
40% above MA
Mashpee and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
6.7%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
14.7%±2.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
29.8%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
32.3%±5.2
MA: 17.9%
33.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Mashpee and Buzzards Bay 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%
29.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
44.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.6%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
8.9%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Buzzards Bay and Bourne 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
$94,388±$12k
9% below MA
$95,299±$13kHighest
8% below MA
Mashpee and Buzzards Bay 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
$454,500±$28kLowest
19% 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±$300Lowest
22% below MA
$1,484±$601
16% below MA
$1,776±$330Highest
about the MA average
Mashpee and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,485Highest
25% below MA
$3,405Lowest
43% below MA
$3,762
37% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.8%±5.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
37.9%±20.3Lowest
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%
MA: 10%
7.3%Highest
MA: 10%
5.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%
MA: 62.5%
75.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
81.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1988Highest
24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
11% below MA
32 minHighest
10% above MA
27 min
6% below MA
Work from home
14.9%±3.1
MA: 18.6%
17.4%±6.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.5%±3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Buzzards Bay 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 — #100 of 282 in MA
School district Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical — Mashpee
High school in town Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical — Mashpee Middle-High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Highest
—
9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.