Compare towns
Brewster vs Mashpee vs Orleans
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Mashpee has the most affordable homes ($562k median).
Orleans has the most expensive homes ($957k 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 | Mashpee | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420 |
15,384Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
55.9±1.8Lowest 40% above MA |
64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA |
| Orleans 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% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mashpee and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
49.3%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans 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% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mashpee 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±$16kHighest about the MA average |
$95,299±$13kLowest 8% below MA |
$102,335±$13k about the MA average |
| Brewster and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$562,200±$29kLowest about the MA average |
$957,000±$85kHighest 70% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,776±$330Highest about the MA average |
$1,502±$703Lowest 15% below MA |
| Mashpee and Brewster 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 |
$3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
$5,486Highest 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
5.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
80.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
27 minHighest 6% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Orleans and Brewster 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 | #100 of 282 in MA | #158 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Mashpee | Nauset · Orleans |
| High school in town | None in town | Mashpee Middle-High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.