Compare towns
Brewster vs Mendon vs Harwich
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 most people working from home (20.3%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Harwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Mendon | Harwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420 |
6,325Lowest |
13,598Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
| Brewster and Harwich 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Brewster and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$96,966±$13kLowest 7% below MA |
| Mendon 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 |
$616,000±$37kLowest 10% above MA |
$658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
| Brewster and Harwich 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 |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
| Harwich and Mendon 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 |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,189Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Brewster and Harwich 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #157 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Mendon-Upton | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Monomoy Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.