Compare towns
Brewster vs Upton vs Harwich vs Chatham
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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Harwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($943k 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 | Upton | Harwich | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,420 |
8,189 |
13,598Highest |
6,681Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
| Chatham 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chatham 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Chatham 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$96,966±$13k 7% below MA |
$85,167±$9kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
$1,485±$209 16% below MA |
| Harwich 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,189 30% below MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Chatham 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Chatham 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #157 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Monomoy Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Monomoy Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.