Compare towns
Brewster vs Acton vs Orleans
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 most affordable homes ($708k median).
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Orleans has the most expensive homes ($957k 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 | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420 |
24,155Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA |
| Orleans and Brewster 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% |
10.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
49.3%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$102,335±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$957,000±$85kHighest 70% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,502±$703Lowest 15% below MA |
| Acton and Brewster 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 |
$5,486 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Orleans 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #158 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Acton-Boxborough | Nauset · Orleans |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
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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.