Compare towns
Bourne vs Everett vs Buzzards Bay vs Sandwich
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).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Buzzards Bay has the most affordable homes ($455k median).
Sandwich has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Everett | Buzzards Bay | Sandwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,323 |
50,045Highest |
2,909Lowest |
20,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52±1.8 30% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
51.8±1.8 30% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
51.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1Lowest 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±$7k 12% below MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$122,486±$12kHighest 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$454,500±$28kLowest 19% below MA |
$601,400±$26k 7% above MA |
| Everett and Sandwich 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 |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,751±$121 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485 25% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,483Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
31.9%±13.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.3% MA: 10% |
7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.8 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | — | #77 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | — | Sandwich |
| High school in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Everett High | — | Sandwich Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.