Compare towns
Buzzards Bay 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%).
West Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k 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 | West Brookfield | Bourne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909Lowest |
3,859 |
20,323Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
52±1.8Lowest 30% 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% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bourne and West Brookfield 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% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Lowest 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% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6 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 |
$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% 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 |
$354,000±$21kLowest 37% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,236±$271Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,379±$300 22% 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 |
$4,260 29% below MA |
$4,485Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne 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% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| West Brookfield 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 | — | #162 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quaboag Regional | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.