Compare towns
Brewster vs Eastham vs Reading vs Harwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Harwich has the most affordable homes ($659k 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 | Eastham | Reading | Harwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,420 |
5,811Lowest |
25,612Highest |
13,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
58.6±1.5 47% 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%±3 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.8%±3.5 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Reading 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±$16k about the MA average |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$96,966±$13k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$658,600±$26kLowest 17% above MA |
| Reading and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
| Harwich and Reading 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 |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,189Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 28% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #17 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #157 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Eastham · Nauset | Reading | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Nauset Regional High | Reading Memorial High | Monomoy Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.