Compare towns
Lee vs Bourne vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Bourne has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Lee | Bourne | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
20,323Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
52±1.8 30% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Lee and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Bourne and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
9.8Highest |
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| 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.