Compare towns
Brewster vs Stoneham vs Dennis
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).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Dennis has the most affordable homes ($627k 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 | Stoneham | Dennis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420Lowest |
23,355Highest |
14,868 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
59.5±2 49% above MA |
| Brewster and Dennis 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
9%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
39.8%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dennis 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Dennis 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 |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$88,154±$10kLowest 15% below MA |
| Stoneham 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±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$627,100±$28kLowest 12% above MA |
| Brewster and Stoneham 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 |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,420±$260Lowest 19% below MA |
| Stoneham 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 |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$2,877Lowest 52% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±9.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Dennis 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% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #238 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Stoneham | Dennis-Yarmouth |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.