Compare towns
Brewster vs Nahant vs Brewster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewster has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Nahant has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Brewster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Brewster | Nahant | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,994Lowest |
3,325 |
10,420Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±15.4Lowest 43% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
| Nahant and Brewster 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% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Brewster and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.6%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Brewster and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,214±$38kHighest 9% above MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Brewster and Nahant 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 |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
$707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
| Brewster and Nahant 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 |
$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Nahant and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,892 18% below MA |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.4%±26.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 45% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Brewster and Nahant 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nahant | Brewster |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.