Compare towns
Brewster vs Andover vs Dennis
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).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Dennis has the most affordable homes ($627k 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 | Andover | Dennis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420Lowest |
36,652Highest |
14,868 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
59.5±2 49% above MA |
| Brewster and Dennis 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% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
9%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
39.8%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dennis 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% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$88,154±$10kLowest 15% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$627,100±$28kLowest 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,420±$260Lowest 19% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,397 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$2,877Lowest 52% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±9.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Dennis 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #160 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #238 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dennis-Yarmouth |
| High school in town | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.