What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

Bourne has the most people working from home (14.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Merrimac	Bourne
People
Population	6,748Lowest	20,323Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.4±6.8Lowest 24% above MA	52±1.8Highest 30% above MA
	Bourne and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.5%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4%	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Merrimac and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Bourne and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA	$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$553,400±$38kLowest about the MA average	$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average
	Bourne and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA	$1,379±$300Highest 22% below MA
	Bourne and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,399Highest 23% above MA	$4,485Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.3%±29.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bourne and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest MA: 10%	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	14.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Bourne and Merrimac 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	#188 of 282 in MA	#206 of 282 in MA
School district	Pentucket	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

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.