Compare towns
Washington vs Bourne vs Middlefield vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bourne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Washington | Bourne | Middlefield | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526 |
20,323Highest |
352Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
52±1.8Lowest 30% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Bourne and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 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 | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
| Middlefield and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | — | #206 of 282 in MA | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | — | Lee |
| High school in town | — | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | — | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.