Compare towns

Bourne vs Leyden vs Wareham

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).
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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.

MeasureBourneLeydenWareham
People
Population
20,323
637Lowest
23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52±1.8Lowest
30% above MA
53.2±8.2Highest
33% above MA
52.1±3.1
30% above MA
Leyden and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.8%±3.6
MA: 19.4%
13.1%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Bourne and Leyden 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%
28.6%±2.7
MA: 17.9%
26.2%±3.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bourne and Leyden 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%
40%
MA: 47.3%
27.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.6%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
0.5%±2.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
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
12% below MA
$105,893±$13kHighest
about the MA average
$90,383±$11kLowest
13% below MA
Leyden 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
$372,900±$24kLowest
34% below MA
$424,500±$21k
24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,379±$300Lowest
22% below MA
$1,917±$451Highest
9% above MA
$1,504±$180
15% below MA
Leyden and Wareham 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
$4,651Highest
22% below MA
$4,341Lowest
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.8%±5.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
42.9%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±23.3
MA: 51.8%
Bourne and Wareham 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%
10.8%Highest
MA: 10%
6.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
93.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
11% below MA
33 minHighest
12% above MA
28 min
5% below MA
Work from home
14.9%±3.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
11%±5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12.4%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
Bourne and Wareham 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 — #272 of 282 in MA
School district Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical — Wareham
High school in town Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical — 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

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.