Compare towns
Dennis vs Marblehead vs Brewster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dennis has the most affordable homes ($627k median).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Brewster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Dennis | Marblehead | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,868 |
20,413Highest |
10,420Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.5±2 49% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 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 | 9%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 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+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dennis and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,154±$10kLowest 15% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,100±$28kLowest 12% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$260Lowest 19% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Marblehead and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,877Lowest 52% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±9.9 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest 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 | 6.7% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #238 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dennis-Yarmouth | Marblehead | Brewster |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead 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.