Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Upton vs West Brookfield 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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
West Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
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 | Upton | West Brookfield | Bourne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909 |
8,189Highest |
3,859 |
1,806Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
58.5±3.2 46% above MA |
61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
| Bourne and West Brookfield 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and West Brookfield 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
58.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±7 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±$12kLowest 9% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
$97,847±$32k 6% below MA |
| Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$354,000±$21kLowest 37% below MA |
$735,500±$156kHighest 31% above MA |
| Bourne and Upton 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,236±$271 30% below MA |
— |
| Buzzards Bay and West Brookfield 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,260 29% below MA |
$3,835 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
12.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
81.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±20.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Bourne 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quaboag Regional | — |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.