What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bourne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).

Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).

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	Lyndeborough
People
Population	20,323Highest	1,616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52±1.8Highest 34% above U.S.	50±3.2Lowest 29% above U.S.
	Bourne and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lyndeborough 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 U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bourne and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,058±$7kLowest 13% above U.S.	$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$575,600±$28kHighest 73% above U.S.	$390,900±$26kLowest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$300Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S.
	Lyndeborough and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,485Lowest 44% above U.S.	$7,133Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±5.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.9%±90Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bourne and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	39 minHighest 48% above U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lyndeborough 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	—
School district	Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical	Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District
High school in town	Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.