Compare towns
Brewster vs Dedham vs Hull vs Chatham
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).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
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.
| Measure | Brewster | Dedham | Hull | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,420 |
25,237Highest |
10,138 |
6,681Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
56.1±1.8 40% 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 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% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Hull 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$85,167±$9kLowest 18% below MA |
| Dedham and Hull 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 |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
| Hull and Dedham 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1 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% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Dedham | Hull | Monomoy Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Hull High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
8.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.