Compare towns

Bourne vs Mansfield vs Buzzards Bay

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).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).

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.

MeasureBourneMansfieldBuzzards Bay
People
Population
20,323
23,931Highest
2,909Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+10.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52±1.8
30% above MA
41.4±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
54.4±5.9Highest
36% 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%
22.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
6.7%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
29.8%±3.1
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
32.3%±5.2Highest
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%
51.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
29.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.6%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
8.9%±1.4Highest
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±$7kLowest
12% below MA
$125,273±$15kHighest
21% above MA
$94,388±$12k
9% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$575,600±$28k
about the MA average
$603,500±$28kHighest
7% above MA
$454,500±$28kLowest
19% below MA
Mansfield and Bourne 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
$1,803±$147Highest
about the MA average
$1,484±$601
16% below MA
Mansfield and Buzzards Bay 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
$7,226Highest
21% above MA
$3,405Lowest
43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.8%±5.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±8.5
MA: 51.8%
37.9%±20.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
6.2%
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.3%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
11% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
32 min
10% above MA
Work from home
14.9%±3.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
17.4%±6.3
MA: 18.6%
Mansfield and Buzzards Bay 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 #60 of 282 in MA —
School district Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical Mansfield —
High school in town Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical Mansfield High —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
11.1Highest
—
On TownTapestry
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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.