Compare towns
Brewster vs Orleans vs Upton
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).
Orleans has the most expensive homes ($957k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Orleans | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420Highest |
6,415Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% 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% |
10.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
49.3%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
58.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brewster and Orleans 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 |
$102,335±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$957,000±$85kHighest 70% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465Highest 10% below MA |
$1,502±$703 15% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Brewster and Orleans 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 |
$5,486 8% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±22.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
80.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Orleans and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Nauset · Orleans | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.