Compare towns
Brewster vs Orleans vs Brewster
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 homeowners (85%).
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Brewster has the most expensive homes ($858k 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 | Orleans | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420Highest |
1,480Lowest |
1,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
64±8.9Highest 60% above MA |
57±15.4Lowest 43% 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% |
7.8%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Brewster 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% |
45.1%±14.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
37.6%±3.8Lowest 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% |
51%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Brewster 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±$16k about the MA average |
$78,359±$16kLowest 25% below MA |
$113,214±$38kHighest 9% above MA |
| Brewster 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±$51k 26% above MA |
$582,000±$111kLowest 4% above MA |
$858,100±$205kHighest 53% above MA |
| Brewster and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465Highest 10% below MA |
$1,040±$876Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,276±$554 28% below MA |
| Brewster 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 |
$3,427Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,892Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
24.1%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±26.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 28% below MA |
19 min 35% below MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.9%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±7.1Lowest 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 | #158 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.