Compare towns
Brewster vs Hull vs Reading vs Dennis
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Dennis has the most affordable homes ($627k 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 | Hull | Reading | Dennis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,420 |
10,138Lowest |
25,612Highest |
14,868 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
59.5±2 49% above MA |
| Brewster and Dennis 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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
9%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
39.8%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dennis 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% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$88,154±$10kLowest 15% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$627,100±$28kLowest 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,420±$260Lowest 19% below MA |
| Hull 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 |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$2,877Lowest 52% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±9.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Dennis 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #160 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #238 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Hull | Reading | Dennis-Yarmouth |
| High school in town | None in town | Hull High | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.