Compare towns
Brewster vs Needham vs East 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 the shortest commute (21 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
East Dennis has the oldest population (median age 64.8).
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 | Needham | East Dennis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420 |
32,459Highest |
3,062Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
64.8±3.9Highest 62% above MA |
| East Dennis 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
49.5%±14.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| East 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$103,654±$26k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$694,000±$61kLowest 23% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$719±$248Lowest 59% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,397 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,443Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.3%±30.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| East Dennis and Brewster 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
24 min 16% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±16.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #160 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Brewster | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.