Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Wareham vs Bernardston 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%).
Wareham has the most homeowners (83.5%).
Bernardston has the most kids (17.6% 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.
| Measure | Buzzards Bay | Wareham | Bernardston | Bourne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909 |
23,302Highest |
2,164 |
1,806Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
49±3.2Lowest 23% 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% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bernardston and Wareham 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% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
58.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% 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±$28k 19% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$735,500±$156kHighest 31% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,283±$553Lowest 27% 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 |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,516Highest 25% below MA |
$3,835 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
81.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 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 | — | #272 of 282 in MA | — | #206 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Wareham | Pioneer Valley | — |
| High school in town | — | Wareham Senior High | None in town | — |
| 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.