What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewster has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brewster	Marion
People
Population	10,420Highest	5,310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA	53.8±4Lowest 35% above MA
	Brewster and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.7%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marion and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%	27.3%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	46.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Marion 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±$16kLowest about the MA average	$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA
	Marion and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA	$653,500±$47kLowest 16% above MA
	Brewster and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,589±$465Highest 10% below MA	$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA
	Brewster and Marion 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	$5,766Highest 4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.2%±23.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marion and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%	9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 28% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	20.3%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±8.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Brewster and Marion 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	#141 of 282 in MA
School district	Brewster	Marion
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.