Compare towns
Bourne vs Lee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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 | Lee | Sandwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,323 |
5,719Lowest |
20,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52±1.8 30% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51.8±1.8Lowest 30% 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%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sandwich and Bourne 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.4%±3.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$122,486±$12kHighest 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$601,400±$26kHighest 7% above MA |
| Sandwich and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,751±$121Highest about the MA average |
| Sandwich 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,483Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
31.9%±13.7Lowest 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% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #77 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Lee | Sandwich |
| High school in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Lee Middle/High School | Sandwich Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.2Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.