Compare towns
Acton vs Brewster vs Eastham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Brewster has the most affordable homes ($708k median).
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
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 | Acton | Brewster | Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
10,420 |
5,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
| Eastham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Eastham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
| Acton and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
| Acton and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Brewster | Eastham · Nauset |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Nauset Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.