Compare towns
Dennis vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Reading | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,868 |
25,612Highest |
10,420Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.5±2 49% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dennis and Reading 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,100±$28kLowest 12% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$260Lowest 19% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±9.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #238 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dennis-Yarmouth | Reading | Brewster |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.