Compare towns
Brewster vs Hull vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
Marblehead has the most kids (22.3% 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 | Hull | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420 |
10,138Lowest |
20,413Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
| Brewster and Hull 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% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hull and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| Hull and Marblehead 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 |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #160 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Hull | Marblehead |
| High school in town | None in town | Hull High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.8Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.