CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

41.73° N · 70.62° W · GEOID 2507140

Bourne

Barnstable County, Massachusetts · part of the Barnstable Town, MA metro

Limited data population under 5,000

MassachusettsBourne, MABourneBourne

The short answer

Bourne is home to 1,806 people. Median household income is $97,847 a year and median rent is $1,695 a month, 20.8% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $735,500, about 7.5x annual median household income.

Median gross rent
$1,695
24% above the median place
Median household income
$97,847
22% above the median place
Median home value
$735,500
130% above the median place
Unemployment
17.1%
251% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Bourne

  • Household income has grown 13.7% a year across the last five survey releases, faster than in 98% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the highest of 118 Massachusetts places.
  • Unemployment averaged 17.1% over the survey period, higher than in 98% of places its size. It is the highest of 105 Massachusetts places.
  • The median resident is 61.2 years old, older than in 98% of places its size. It is the 2nd-highest of 122 Massachusetts places.
  • Households average 1.89 people, smaller than in 97% of places its size. It is the 3rd-lowest of 122 Massachusetts places.
  • Public schools here have 9.8 students per teacher, fewer than in 95% of places its size.
01

Moving to Bourne

Barnstable County gains about 1.0 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in9,735
Moved out9,532
Net+203

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Massachusetts, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within MassachusettsOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$147K
Leavers$113K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Barnstable County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
5.8% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.6% from another state. County figure.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Barnstable County report $147,300 a year in income on average; those leaving, $112,700, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$67,800 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,695 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,269 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $735,500.
Getting to work
25 minutes each way on average; 16.0% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Hilton Head Island, SC matches it on character. Compare the two
Income of households moving in6
$147,264
109% above the median place
Income of households moving out6
$112,704
60% above the median place
Moved from another state1
2.6%
34% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureBourneAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure5.8%0% above
Moved from another state1County figure2.6%34% above
Net movers per 1,000 people6County figure1.0above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in6County figure$147,264109% above
Income of households moving out6County figure$112,70460% above
02

What it costs to live here

Home price to income is 7.5x, 98% above the median place.

Bourne20.8%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$67,800
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
20.8%
2% above the median place
Home price to income
7.5x
98% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
21%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$77,600
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Bourne, $1,695 a month, and local prices for everything else (100.1 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Bourne, but easier on the budget

Close matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income.

PlaceRent to incomeMore left a year
Margate City, NJ13.3% vs 20.8%$29,400Compare
Beach Haven West, NJ17.1% vs 20.8%$16,600Compare
Oceanport, NJ15.3% vs 20.8%$24,100Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Bourne.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Bourne? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Renters paying 30%+1
33.6%
34% below the median place
Vacant homes1
16.6%
135% above the median place
Median home value1
$735,500
130% above the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureBourneAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,69524% above
Rent to income120.8%2% above
Property tax rate10.5%43% below
Home price to income17.5x98% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure98.33% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,48854% above
Property tax paid (median)1$3,83517% above
Median home value1$735,500130% above
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure1.8%44% below
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure64.6%25% above
Homeownership181.2%22% above
Renters paying 30%+133.6%34% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,26921% above
Vacant homes116.6%135% above
Median year built119671% below
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Unemployment1
17.1%
251% above the median place
Income per person1
$75,898
89% above the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureBourneAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$97,84722% above
Income per person1$75,89889% above
Unemployment117.1%251% above
Average annual pay5County figure$67,1762% above
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure3.8%3% above
Jobs5County figure96,49136% below
Poverty rate112.3%14% above
Mean commute1County figure25 min0% below
Works from home1County figure16.0%29% above
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

No health insurance is 0.0%, below the median place (median 6.4%).

No health insurance1
0.0%
below the median place (median 6.4%)
Median age1
61.2
57% above the median place
Household size1
1.9
24% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Homes with broadband98.7% +7%
Bachelor's or higher58.5% +82%
High school or higher96.0% +4%
All 8 people measures
MeasureBourneAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population11,8066646th largest
Median age161.257% above
Bachelor's or higher158.5%82% above
High school or higher196.0%4% above
Household size11.924% below
Born abroad1County figure9.9%12% above
No health insurance10.0%below (median 6.4%)
Homes with broadband198.7%7% above
05

Life in Bourne

10 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 3 of them National Historic Landmarks.

  • Briggs, George I., House listed 1981
  • Cleveland Ledge Light Station listed 1987
  • Wing's Neck Light listed 1987
  • Bourne High School listed 2013
  • Bourne Town Hall listed 2013
  • Bourne, Jonathan, Public Library listed 2013

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents27.7 2.7×
Playgrounds per 10k11.1 +18%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k11.1 −1%
Libraries per 10k11.1 12.7×
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars38.1 +83%
Shops60.5 2.0×
Arts, recreation and fitness10.9 2.7×
Doctors' offices and clinics21.0 +4%
Child care centers2.3 +0%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Students per teacher11
9.8
36% below the median place
Public schools11
4
56% below the median place
Public school students11
1,932
61% below the median place
All 16 schools and local life measures
MeasureBourneAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools11456% below
Public school students111,93261% below
Students per teacher119.836% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k7County figure38.183% above
Shops per 10k7County figure60.5100% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k7County figure10.9166% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k7County figure21.04% above
Child care centers per 10k7County figure2.30% above
Parks per 10k827.7172% above
Playgrounds per 10k811.118% above
Grocery stores per 10k80.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k811.11% below
Libraries per 10k811.1above (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails80.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi80.0below (median 0.2)
National Register listings91023% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 261, 36% above the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
261
36% above the median place
Property crime per 100k
836
31% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

Good air days14
93.7%
37% above the median place
July average high12
79°F
9% below the median place
Heat wave risk13
38.9
57% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureBourneAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high12County figure79°F9% below
January average low12County figure24°F4% below
Average temperature12County figure51°F7% below
Annual precipitation12County figure47.3 in8% above
Natural hazard risk13County figure89.14% below
Hurricane risk13County figure94.534% above
Tornado risk13County figure45.544% below
Wildfire risk13County figure53.213% below
Heat wave risk13County figure38.957% below
Median air quality index14County figure3616% below
Good air days14County figure93.7%37% above
08

Bourne in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 23% of the median income in 2030, up from 21% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,695/mo (2022)$2,520/mo$2,010 to $3,170/mo+5.1%
Median household income$97,847 (2024)$131,500$111,000 to $155,500+5.1%
Median home value$735,500 (2024)$1,084,000$787,000 to $1,494,000+6.7%

The median home would be worth 8.2 years of the median income in 2030, against 7.5 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Bourne

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Hilton Head Island, SC$1,479$94,657Compare
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL$1,787$81,655Compare
St. Pete Beach, FL$1,811$114,583Compare
Treasure Island, FL$1,631$87,107Compare
Treasure Island, FLSt. Pete Beach, FLLauderdale-by-the-Sea, FLHilton Head Island, SCBourne, MABourneHilton Head IslandSt. Pete BeachTreasure IslandBourneHilton Head IslandSt. Pete BeachTreasure Island

Common questions

Is Bourne a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Household income has grown 13.7% a year across the last five survey releases, faster than in 98% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the highest of 118 Massachusetts places. Unemployment averaged 17.1% over the survey period, higher than in 98% of places its size. It is the highest of 105 Massachusetts places. On cost, space and class size it scores 42 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Bourne expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 20.8% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $735,500.

What salary do you need to live in Bourne?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $67,800 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Bourne safe?

There were 261 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Bourne?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Hilton Head Island, SC, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL, St. Pete Beach, FL and Treasure Island, FL.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  7. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  8. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  9. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  10. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  11. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  12. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  13. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  14. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Bourne with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Bourne itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/bourne-massachusetts

Citytistics. “Bourne, Massachusetts.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/bourne-massachusetts/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.