What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewster has the most kids (13.1% under 18).

Chatham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brewster	Chatham
People
Population	10,420Highest	6,681Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	59.6±4.7Lowest 49% above MA	63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA
	Chatham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Brewster and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.6%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Chatham 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%	60.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Chatham 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±$16kHighest about the MA average	$85,167±$9kLowest 18% below MA
	Brewster and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA	$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,589±$465Highest 10% below MA	$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA
	Brewster and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,397Highest 27% below MA	$4,094Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8%	58.7%±21.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Brewster and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%	10.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 28% below MA	24 minHighest 18% below MA
Work from home	20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.5%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Chatham 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	#130 of 282 in MA
School district	Brewster	Monomoy Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.