Compare towns

Bourne vs Erving vs Salisbury

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 expensive homes ($576k median).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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.

MeasureBourneErvingSalisbury
People
Population
20,323Highest
1,703Lowest
9,281
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%
MA: +7.4%
-7.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52±1.8Highest
30% above MA
43.3±2.4Lowest
8% above MA
51.3±3.5
28% above MA
Bourne and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
16.3%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.1%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Erving 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
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
25.5%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
Bourne and Salisbury 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%
24.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
43.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.6%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.8%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.7
MA: 7.9%
Bourne and Salisbury 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
$77,656±$9kLowest
25% below MA
$93,361±$6kHighest
10% below MA
Salisbury 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
$271,800±$20kLowest
52% below MA
$478,700±$27k
15% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,379±$300
22% below MA
$1,163±$213Lowest
34% below MA
$1,691±$411Highest
4% below MA
Salisbury 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
$1,870Lowest
69% below MA
$4,604Highest
23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.8%±5.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
46.5%±23Lowest
MA: 51.8%
61.9%±11.5
MA: 51.8%
Bourne and Salisbury 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%
MA: 10%
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%
MA: 62.5%
81.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
71.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
11% below MA
28 minHighest
4% below MA
28 min
5% below MA
Work from home
14.9%±3.1
MA: 18.6%
3.6%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.8%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Salisbury 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 — #240 of 282 in MA
School district Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical Erving Triton
High school in town Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8
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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.