Compare towns
Brewster vs Danvers vs Eastham vs Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most kids (17.2% under 18).
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($943k 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 | Danvers | Eastham | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,420 |
28,098Highest |
5,811Lowest |
6,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
| Chatham and Eastham 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% |
17.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Danvers 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% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chatham and Eastham 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% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.4% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Danvers and Chatham 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 |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$85,167±$9k 18% below MA |
| Danvers and Brewster 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 |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,397 27% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 28% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Chatham and Eastham 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Eastham · Nauset | Monomoy Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Nauset Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.