What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bourne has the most kids (14.7% under 18).

Harwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bourne	Harwich
People
Population	20,323Highest	13,598Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52±1.8Lowest 30% above MA	58.6±1.5Highest 47% above MA
Kids under 18	14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bourne and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.8%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	35.8%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Harwich 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	50.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA	$96,966±$13kHighest 7% below MA
	Harwich 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±$28kLowest about the MA average	$658,600±$26kHighest 17% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA	$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA
	Harwich and Bourne 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	$4,189Lowest 30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8%	56.7%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Bourne and Harwich 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%	4.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 11% below MA	25 minLowest 14% below MA
Work from home	14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.3%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Harwich 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	#157 of 282 in MA
School district	Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical	Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical	Monomoy Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	6 photos →

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.