Compare towns
Brewster vs Rowley vs Upton 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).
Rowley has the most renters (18.3% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Harwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Rowley | Upton | Harwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,420 |
6,251Lowest |
8,189 |
13,598Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$96,966±$13kLowest 7% below MA |
| Upton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
| Brewster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
| Harwich and Rowley 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,189Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Rowley 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #157 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Monomoy Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.