Compare towns
Brewster vs Nahant vs Wellfleet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering BrewsterBrewster
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewster has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Nahant has the most affordable homes ($749k median).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
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 | Wellfleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,994Lowest |
3,325 |
4,404Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±15.4Lowest 43% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
| Nahant and Wellfleet 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% |
14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Brewster and Wellfleet 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% |
35.3%±5.8Lowest 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% |
64.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,214±$38k 9% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$117,938±$27kHighest 13% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Brewster 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±$99kLowest 33% above MA |
$855,300±$70k 52% above MA |
| Brewster and Wellfleet 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 |
$1,563±$597 11% below MA |
| Nahant and Wellfleet 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 |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.4%±26.4 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 45% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wellfleet 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 | Wellfleet |
| 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.