Compare towns
Brewster vs Nahant vs Upton vs Truro
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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Truro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.5%).
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 | Upton | Truro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,994 |
3,325 |
8,189Highest |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+22.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±15.4 43% above MA |
60.7±2.9 52% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
64.1±5.8Highest 60% above MA |
| Truro and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±6.6 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
45.6%±10.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Truro 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±5.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Truro 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±$38k 9% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$118,984±$72k 14% above MA |
| Upton and Truro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $858,100±$205k 53% above MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$888,200±$117kHighest 58% above MA |
| Truro and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$554 28% below MA |
$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$6,615 10% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,997Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.4%±26.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Truro and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 45% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.2%±22.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Truro and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nahant | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Truro |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.