Compare towns

Brewster vs Upton vs Nahant

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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).

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.

MeasureBrewsterUptonNahant
People
Population
1,994Lowest
8,189Highest
3,325
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-2.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
57±15.4
43% above MA
46.4±4.8Lowest
16% above MA
60.7±2.9Highest
52% 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%±6.6
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
11%±3.1Lowest
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%±3.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
36.2%±6.2
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%
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
61.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,214±$38k
9% above MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$112,762±$6kLowest
8% above MA
Upton 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
$576,700±$41kLowest
about the MA average
$748,800±$99k
33% 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±$554
28% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,777±$334Highest
about the MA average
Nahant and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,892Lowest
18% below MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$6,615
10% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.4%±26.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
53.5%±17.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
Nahant and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.4%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
78.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
16 minLowest
45% below MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
32 min
10% above MA
Work from home
10.6%±7.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
18.7%±5.7
MA: 18.6%
Upton 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 #46 of 282 in MA #129 of 282 in MA
School district — Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Nahant
High school in town — Blackstone Valley None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2
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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.