Compare towns
Brewster vs Stow 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 oldest population (median age 59.6).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Brewster has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Stow | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420Highest |
7,165 |
1,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
57±15.4 43% above MA |
| Brewster and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±6.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Brewster 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
37.6%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Brewster 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$113,214±$38k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$858,100±$205kHighest 53% above MA |
| Brewster and Stow 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 |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$1,276±$554Lowest 28% below MA |
| Stow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,892 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±26.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Stow 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 28% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #160 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Nashoba | — |
| 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.