Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Lee vs Bourne vs Wareham
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%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($736k median).
Wareham has the youngest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Lee | Bourne | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909 |
5,719 |
1,806Lowest |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
52.1±3.1Lowest 30% above MA |
| Bourne and Lee 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% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wareham and Lee 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% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Lee 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% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
58.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$97,847±$32kHighest 6% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$735,500±$156kHighest 31% above MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
— | $1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
| Wareham and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$3,835 36% below MA |
$4,341Highest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
12.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±20.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lee | — | Wareham |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | — | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.