Compare towns
Bourne vs Mashpee vs Townsend 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).
Mashpee has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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.
| Measure | Bourne | Mashpee | Townsend | Buzzards Bay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,323Highest |
15,384 |
9,100 |
2,909Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52±1.8 30% above MA |
55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
| Mashpee and Buzzards Bay 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% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Mashpee and Buzzards Bay 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% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 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 |
$95,299±$13k 8% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
| Townsend and Mashpee 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 |
$562,200±$29k about the MA average |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
| Bourne and Mashpee 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 |
$1,776±$330Highest about the MA average |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,484±$601 16% below MA |
| Mashpee 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 |
$3,762 37% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% MA: 10% |
5.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay 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 | #100 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Mashpee | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Mashpee Middle-High School | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.6Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.