Compare towns
Carver vs Bourne vs Southwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carver has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Bourne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Southwick has the highest household income ($120k).
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 | Carver | Bourne | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,712 |
20,323Highest |
9,217Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Lowest 15% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
46.8±1.8 17% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Southwick and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$23k 12% below MA |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$120,462±$16kHighest 16% above MA |
| Southwick and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,200±$21k 23% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$397,500±$27kLowest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,827±$345Highest 4% above MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,332±$72Lowest 24% below MA |
| Carver and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,455Highest 8% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,331 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Southwick 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 | #237 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carver | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District |
| High school in town | Carver Middle/High School | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Southwick Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
9.8 |
11.0Highest |
| 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.