Compare towns
Brewster vs Millis vs Rowley
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).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Rowley has the most kids (19.3% 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 | Millis | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420Highest |
8,888 |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
46.4±3Lowest 16% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
| Brewster and Rowley 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% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Millis 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% |
23.5%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.5% MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Rowley 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 |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| Millis and Rowley 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 |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
| Brewster and Rowley 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 |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Millis and Rowley 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 |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Rowley 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Brewster and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Millis | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.