What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).

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	Boylston	Bourne
People
Population	4,948Lowest	20,323Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±2.3Lowest 21% above MA	52±1.8Highest 30% above MA
	Bourne and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Boylston and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	46%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Bourne and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA	$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average	$575,600±$28kLowest about the MA average
	Boylston and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA	$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,266Highest 21% above MA	$4,485Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bourne and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest MA: 10%	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 8% below MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%	14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Boylston 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	#72 of 282 in MA	#206 of 282 in MA
School district	Berlin-Boylston	Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Tahanto Regional High	Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.