First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Barnstable County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loans
Living in Bourne, Massachusetts
Bourne sits at the western gateway to Cape Cod, split by the Cape Cod Canal into a mainland section and a Cape section connected by the Bourne and Sagamore bridges. Incorporated in 1884, it was the last town formed in Barnstable County and is made up of several distinct villages rather than one downtown. Buzzards Bay, its largest village, sits on the canal's south bank and is the town's commercial center.
Bourne at a glance
- $7.65Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $6,075Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 70-90 minDrive to Boston
- BarnstableCounty
Bourne's villages and zip codes
Bourne's villages each carry their own ZIP code rather than sharing one town-wide code.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Buzzards Bay | 02532 | The town's commercial hub, on the Cape Cod Canal's south bank near the Bourne Bridge; home to Town Hall and Massachusetts Maritime Academy. |
| Bournedale | 02532 | A section north of the canal along Herring Pond and Route 6. |
| Sagamore | 02561 | North of the canal near the Sagamore Bridge, at the Cape's traditional entry point. |
| Sagamore Beach | 02562 | A shoreline village on Cape Cod Bay, in the northeastern part of town. |
| Monument Beach | 02553 | A village on Buzzards Bay south of the canal, with a harbor and beach. |
| Pocasset | 02559 | South of the canal on the Buzzards Bay shoreline, between Monument Beach and Cataumet. |
| Cataumet | 02534 | The southernmost village, bordering Falmouth. |
Things to do in Bourne, MA
Start with Cape Cod Canal Bikeway and Aptucxet Trading Post Museum, then 2 more below.
Cape Cod Canal Bikeway
A paved, flat path running along both banks of the Cape Cod Canal for about 6.5 miles per side, used for biking, walking and fishing while watching ships pass through the canal. Access points include the Bourne Recreation Area and Scusset Beach.
Along the Cape Cod Canal, Bourne, MA
Aptucxet Trading Post Museum
A Bourne Historical Society museum on the canal's south bank built around a recreation of the 1627 Pilgrim trading post, with a windmill, replica saltworks and gardens on a 12-acre campus.
24 Aptucxet Road, Bourne, MA 02532
Bourne Recreation Area
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site on the canal near the Bourne Bridge with fishing, walking and bicycling access and views of ship traffic passing beneath the bridge.
Off Route 28, Buzzards Bay, MA
Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge
A vertical lift bridge completed in 1935 that was the longest of its type in the world at the time; it remains an active rail crossing over the canal.
Buzzards Bay, MA
More worth a visit
- Massachusetts Maritime Academy waterfrontThe public maritime college's Buzzards Bay campus sits on the canal and includes public-facing events and a training ship open house some years.
A little history
The Aptucxet Trading Post, built by Plymouth Colony settlers in 1627 on the canal's south bank, is described as one of the earliest trading posts in the region.
Bourne was incorporated as a separate town in 1884, split off from Sandwich, and named for Jonathan Bourne Sr., a New Bedford whaling merchant.
President Grover Cleveland's summer home, Gray Gables, stood in the Monument Beach/Gray Gables section and served as a summer White House in the 1890s.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Bourne
Bourne's shoreline touches both Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Bay, and the Cape Cod Canal cuts through the middle of town with a paved path on each bank.
- Cape Cod Canal BikewayFlat paved paths on both banks of the canal for biking, walking and fishing.
- Monument BeachA town beach on Buzzards Bay with a harbor and views toward Wings Neck.
- Sagamore BeachA shoreline neighborhood beach on Cape Cod Bay in the northeast part of town.
- Bourne Recreation AreaCanal-side fishing, walking and biking access near the Bourne Bridge.
Where to eat in Bourne: restaurants and coffee
4 places in Bourne to try, including restaurant and pizza and sub shop. No one paid to be listed.
Mezza Luna
Restaurant
A Main Street restaurant in Buzzards Bay that has operated since 1937.
Main Street, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
Buzzards Bay House of Pizza
Pizza and sub shop
A family-run pizza and sub shop on Main Street in Buzzards Bay operating since 1987.
270 Main St, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
Mahoney's on Main
Restaurant and bar
A restaurant and bar on Main Street in Buzzards Bay.
57 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
Rod & Rail
Restaurant and raw bar
A Main Street restaurant in Buzzards Bay serving a raw bar alongside its regular menu.
149 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
Walkability and getting around Bourne
Downtown Buzzards Bay is walkable along Main Street near the canal, but Bourne's other villages are spread across a large area on both sides of the canal, and getting between them means driving.
Drive times
- Boston, about 55 miles70-90 min
- Barnstable Municipal Airport (Hyannis), about 25 miles35-40 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) serves Bourne, and the seasonal CapeFlyer train runs from Boston's South Station to stops at Buzzards Bay and Bourne on summer weekends. Two highway bridges (Bourne and Sagamore) and a rail lift bridge are the only canal crossings.
Bourne property taxes
Bourne's FY2026 residential tax rate is $7.65 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $765 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $6,075, on an average assessed value of $794,061.
Bourne's FY2026 tax rates
$7.65per $1,000, residential
- Residential$7.65 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$794,061
- Average single-family tax bill$6,075
- Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value
Bourne has several independent water districts (Bourne, Buzzards Bay and North Sagamore) rather than a single town water department; which one serves a property depends on location.
Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
How the residential rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Residential rate |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | $10.09 |
| FY2023 | $8.81 |
| FY2024 | $8.02 |
| FY2025 | $7.81 |
| FY2026 | $7.65 |
Look up a Bourne property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Bourne
What we check on a Bourne purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, septic & wells, coastal flood zones.
Check the flood zone first
Bourne's shoreline on Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod Bay and the Cape Cod Canal puts many waterfront and low-lying village areas, including parts of Monument Beach, Pocasset and Sagamore Beach, in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for BourneSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Bourne Fire/Rescue & Emergency Services before the sale closes. Call 508-759-0600 ext. 2 to schedule.
Bourne Fire/Rescue & Emergency Services pageConfirm which water district and septic status apply
Bourne is served by three separate water districts (Bourne, Buzzards Bay and North Sagamore) rather than one town system, and many properties outside sewered village centers use septic systems requiring a Title 5 inspection before sale. Confirm both early.
Check FEMA flood maps near the shoreline
Waterfront and low-lying parcels along Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod Bay and the canal can fall within FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a coastal property.
All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Bourne?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Bourne address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Bourne: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Bourne: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Natural gasNo natural gas service confirmed for most of town
- WaterBourne Water District, Buzzards Bay Water District, or North Sagamore Water District depending on location
- Sewer or septicThe town has been extending municipal sewer in parts of Buzzards Bay and other village centers; many properties remain on septic.
- Trash and recyclingBourne's Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) facility runs a resident-sticker transfer station rather than routine town-wide curbside pickup; a separate bulk-item curbside collection runs on a monthly schedule.
- Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV
Bourne ISWM Facility
201 MacArthur Boulevard, Bourne, MA 02532 Monday-Friday 7 AM-4 PM, Saturday 7 AM-12 PM
Transfer station detailsTown Hall offices and contacts
Bourne Town Hall is at 24 Perry Avenue, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. Main line: 508-759-0600.
- Town HallMain line and website508-759-0600
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, and elections.
- Assessing DepartmentProperty values, assessments, and the Assessors' Database.508-759-0600 ext. 1510
- Collector/TreasurerProperty tax billing and payment.
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic, wells and public health regulation.508-759-0600 ext. 1513
- Fire/Rescue & Emergency ServicesFire, EMS and smoke-certificate inspections.508-759-0600 ext. 2
- Integrated Solid Waste ManagementTransfer station, recycling and bulk curbside collection.508-759-0600 ext. 4
- Jonathan Bourne Public LibraryThe town's public library, a CLAMS network member.508-759-0600 ext. 6102
- Bourne Public SchoolsThe town's public school district.
Bourne, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Bourne, MA?
Bourne's FY2026 residential tax rate is $7.65 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Bourne?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $3,060 a year at $7.65 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Bourne have a split tax rate?
No. Bourne uses a single rate of $7.65 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Bourne?
The average single-family tax bill in Bourne was $6,075 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $794,061.
What county is Bourne, MA in?
Bourne is in Barnstable County, at the western entrance to Cape Cod.
How many ZIP codes does Bourne have?
Bourne's villages each have their own ZIP code: Buzzards Bay and Bournedale share 02532, Sagamore is 02561, Sagamore Beach is 02562, Monument Beach is 02553, Pocasset is 02559 and Cataumet is 02534.
Does Bourne have curbside trash pickup?
No. Bourne uses a resident-sticker transfer station (the ISWM facility on MacArthur Boulevard) rather than routine curbside trash collection; a separate bulk-item collection runs monthly.
Who supplies water in Bourne?
Bourne is served by three separate water districts depending on location: Bourne Water District, Buzzards Bay Water District and North Sagamore Water District.
Is there a train station in Bourne?
The seasonal CapeFlyer train runs from Boston to stops at Buzzards Bay and Bourne on summer weekends; there is no year-round passenger rail.
How far is Bourne from Boston?
Bourne is about 55 miles from Boston, roughly 70-90 minutes by car depending on canal-bridge traffic.
Towns near Bourne
Neighbors of Bourne, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Bourne, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Bourne official website: bourne-ma.gov
- Assessing Department - Bourne, MA: bourne-ma.gov
- Fire/Rescue & Emergency Services - Bourne, MA: bourne-ma.gov
- Board of Health - Bourne, MA: bourne-ma.gov
- Integrated Solid Waste Management - Bourne, MA: bourne-ma.gov
- Bourne Water District - About: bournewaterdistrict.com
- Jonathan Bourne Public Library: bournelibrary.org
- Bourne MA Town Hall photo, Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
- Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
- Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
- Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: T.S. Custadio (ToddC4176), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.