Compare towns
Chatham vs Lancaster vs Brewster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 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 | Chatham | Lancaster | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,681Lowest |
8,606 |
10,420Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
59.6±4.7 49% 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 | 8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 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+ | 60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Chatham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,167±$9kLowest 18% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Lancaster and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.7%±21.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
85%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Chatham 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 | #130 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District | Nashoba | Brewster |
| High school in town | None 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.