Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Nahant vs Wareham 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%).
Nahant has the highest household income ($113k).
Wareham has the most kids (13.1% under 18).
Bourne has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Nahant | Wareham | Bourne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909 |
3,325 |
23,302Highest |
1,806Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
60.7±2.9 52% above MA |
52.1±3.1Lowest 30% above MA |
61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
| Bourne and Nahant 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% |
11%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wareham and Nahant 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% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Nahant 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% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$112,762±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$97,847±$32k 6% below MA |
| Nahant and Bourne 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 |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$735,500±$156k 31% above MA |
| Nahant and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
— |
| Nahant and Wareham 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 |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$3,835 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Nahant 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±20.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bourne and Nahant 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 | — | #129 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nahant | Wareham | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Wareham Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.