Compare towns
Brewster vs Eastham vs Needham
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).
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Eastham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420 |
5,811Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Eastham 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% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Eastham 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% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 28% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #160 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Eastham · Nauset | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Nauset Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.