What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewster has the shortest commute (16 min average).

Egremont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).

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	Brewster	Egremont
People
Population	1,994Highest	1,230Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	57±15.4Highest 43% above MA	56.9±13.6Lowest 42% above MA
	Brewster and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.5%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%	10.9%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Brewster and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.6%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%	30.4%±9.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Brewster and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	67.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Egremont and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,214±$38kHighest 9% above MA	$101,458±$30kLowest about the MA average
	Brewster and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$858,100±$205kHighest 53% above MA	$664,900±$109kLowest 18% above MA
	Brewster and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$554Lowest 28% below MA	$1,349±$393Highest 23% below MA
	Egremont and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,892Highest 18% below MA	$3,647Lowest 39% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.4%±26.4Highest MA: 51.8%	8.5%±40.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Brewster and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest MA: 10%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 45% below MA	44 minHighest 50% above MA
Work from home	10.6%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#160 of 282 in MA	—
School district	—	Southern Berkshire
High school in town	—	None in town
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.