Compare towns
Brewster vs Acton vs Hull
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 (21 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
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 | Acton | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420 |
24,155Highest |
10,138Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.5% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
| Hull and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #160 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Acton-Boxborough | Hull |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
8.8Lowest |
| 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.