Compare towns
Brewster vs Dover vs Orleans
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 most affordable homes ($708k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Orleans has the oldest population (median age 64.7).
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 | Dover | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420Highest |
2,308Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
47.5±4Lowest 19% above MA |
64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA |
| Orleans 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% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
49.3%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$102,335±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$957,000±$85k 70% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465Highest 10% below MA |
— | $1,502±$703Lowest 15% below MA |
| Brewster and Orleans 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,486 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±22.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover 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% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Orleans 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #158 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | — | Nauset · Orleans |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.