Compare towns
Brewster vs Reading vs Orleans
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 affordable homes ($708k median).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
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 | Reading | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420 |
25,612Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
64.7±2.5Highest 62% 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
49.3%±6.9Highest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Reading 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$102,335±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$957,000±$85kHighest 70% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,502±$703Lowest 15% below MA |
| Reading and Brewster 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,486 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±22.7 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
80.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Orleans 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #158 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | — | Nauset · Orleans |
| High school in town | None 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.