Compare towns
Bourne vs Deerfield vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bourne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Deerfield has the highest household income ($106k).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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.
| Measure | Bourne | Deerfield | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,323Highest |
5,158Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52±1.8 30% above MA |
51.8±3.6Lowest 30% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee and Bourne 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% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bourne and Deerfield 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%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee 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% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield 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±$7k 12% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Deerfield 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 |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$300Highest 22% below MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Bourne and Lee 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 |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Lee 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% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 11% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield and Lee 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Deerfield · Frontier | Lee |
| High school in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Frontier Regional | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
11.1Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.