Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Ashfield vs Bourne vs Bourne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
Bourne has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($736k 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.
| Measure | Buzzards Bay | Ashfield | Bourne | Bourne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909 |
1,893 |
20,323Highest |
1,806Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
58.6±3.4 47% above MA |
52±1.8Lowest 30% above MA |
61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
| Bourne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bourne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
58.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±7 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 | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$97,847±$32kHighest 6% below MA |
| Bourne and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$735,500±$156kHighest 31% above MA |
| Bourne and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
— |
| Buzzards Bay and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$3,835 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
81.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
26 min 11% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±20.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield 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 | #206 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.