Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Bourne vs Bernardston
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%).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($736k median).
Bernardston has the most kids (17.6% under 18).
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 | Bourne | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909Highest |
1,806Lowest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
49±3.2Lowest 23% above MA |
| Bourne and Buzzards Bay 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% |
6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne 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+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
58.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±7 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$97,847±$32kHighest 6% below MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% 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 |
$735,500±$156kHighest 31% above MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
— | $1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Bernardston 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 |
$3,835 36% below MA |
$4,516Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bernardston and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
12.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±20.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bourne 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 | — |
| School district | — | — | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.