Compare towns
Brewster vs Needham vs Hull 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Hull has the most renters (20.4% rent).
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 | Hull | Harwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,420 |
32,459Highest |
10,138Lowest |
13,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56.1±1.8 40% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$96,966±$13kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$2,017±$738 14% above MA |
| Needham and Hull 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$4,189Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Harwich 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #160 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #157 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Needham | Hull | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Hull High | Monomoy Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
8.8Lowest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.