Compare towns
Brewster vs Canton vs Harwich
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).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Harwich has the most affordable homes ($659k 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 | Canton | Harwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420Lowest |
24,748Highest |
13,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
| Brewster and Harwich 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% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Brewster and Harwich 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% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Canton 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 |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$96,966±$13kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$658,600±$26kLowest 17% above MA |
| Canton and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,017±$738 14% above MA |
| Canton and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,397 27% below MA |
$6,560Highest 9% above MA |
$4,189Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Harwich 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #157 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | Monomoy Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.