Compare towns
Brewster vs Bourne vs Eastham
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 highest household income ($103k).
Bourne has the most affordable homes ($576k median).
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
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 | Bourne | Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420 |
20,323Highest |
5,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
52±1.8Lowest 30% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
| Eastham 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% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bourne and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Eastham 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16kHighest about the MA average |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
| Brewster and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$575,600±$28kLowest about the MA average |
$732,200±$63kHighest 30% above MA |
| Eastham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,747±$101Highest about the MA average |
| Eastham 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 |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 28% below MA |
26 minHighest 11% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Eastham and Brewster 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Eastham · Nauset |
| High school in town | None in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Nauset Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
9.8 |
| 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.