Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Plainfield vs Bourne vs West Brookfield
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%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k median).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
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 | Plainfield | Bourne | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909 |
616Lowest |
20,323Highest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
52±1.8 30% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| West Brookfield 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%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Bourne 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% |
29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Brookfield 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| West Brookfield 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$354,000±$21k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,236±$271Lowest 30% 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 |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$4,485Highest 25% below MA |
$4,260 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and West Brookfield 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 | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | — | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | None in town |
| 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.