Compare towns

Brewster vs Nahant vs Egremont

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 population (median age 60.7).
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.

MeasureBrewsterNahantEgremont
People
Population
1,994
3,325Highest
1,230Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%
MA: +7.4%
-2.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
57±15.4
43% above MA
60.7±2.9Highest
52% above MA
56.9±13.6Lowest
42% 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%±3.1
MA: 19.4%
10.9%±5.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Brewster and Nahant 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%
36.2%±6.2
MA: 17.9%
30.4%±9.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Brewster and Nahant 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%
61.6%
MA: 47.3%
67.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.8Lowest
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
$112,762±$6k
8% above MA
$101,458±$30kLowest
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
$664,900±$109kLowest
18% 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
$1,349±$393
23% below MA
Nahant and Egremont 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
$3,647Lowest
39% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.4%±26.4
MA: 51.8%
53.5%±17.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
8.5%±40.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Nahant and Brewster 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%
8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.4%
MA: 62.5%
78.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
82.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
16 minLowest
45% below MA
32 min
10% above MA
44 minHighest
50% above MA
Work from home
10.6%±7.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
18.7%±5.7
MA: 18.6%
29.6%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
Egremont 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 —
School district — Nahant Southern Berkshire
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.