Compare towns

Buzzards Bay 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%).
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.

MeasureBuzzards BayBourneBourne
People
Population
2,909
20,323Highest
1,806Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
54.4±5.9
36% above MA
52±1.8Lowest
30% above MA
61.2±3.5Highest
53% 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%
14.7%±2.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
6.1%±5.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
32.3%±5.2
MA: 17.9%
29.8%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
38.6%±8.8Highest
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%Lowest
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%
6.6%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±7Lowest
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
$91,058±$7kLowest
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±$28kLowest
19% 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
$1,379±$300Lowest
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
$4,485Highest
25% below MA
$3,835
36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±20.3
MA: 51.8%
62.8%±5.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
33.6%±20.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Bourne 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%
6.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
12.3%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75.8%
MA: 62.5%
81.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older 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
26 min
11% below MA
22 minLowest
24% below MA
Work from home
17.4%±6.3
MA: 18.6%
14.9%±3.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±20.2Highest
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 #206 of 282 in MA
School district — Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical —
High school 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

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.