Compare towns

Bourne vs Dunbarton vs Wareham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k median).
Dunbarton has the highest household income ($124k).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k 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.

MeasureBourneDunbartonWareham
People
Population
20,323
3,097Lowest
23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52±1.8
34% above U.S.
48±3.7Lowest
23% above U.S.
52.1±3.1Highest
34% above U.S.
Wareham and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dunbarton and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.8%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.2%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bourne and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.6%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Bourne and Wareham 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
13% above U.S.
$124,348±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$90,383±$11kLowest
12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$575,600±$28kHighest
73% above U.S.
$484,100±$33k
46% above U.S.
$424,500±$21kLowest
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,379±$300
about the U.S. average
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,504±$180Highest
6% above U.S.
Wareham and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,485
44% above U.S.
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,341Lowest
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.8%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7
U.S.: 51.1%
51.4%±23.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bourne and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
14.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bourne and Dunbarton 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 #33 of 120 in NH #272 of 282 in MA
School district Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical Dunbarton School District Wareham
High school in town Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical None in town Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Highest
—
8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.