Compare towns
Dennis vs Upton vs Brewster vs Mashpee
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 renters (21.1% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mashpee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Upton | Brewster | Mashpee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,868 |
8,189Lowest |
10,420 |
15,384Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.5±2 49% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
55.9±1.8 40% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mashpee and Dennis 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$95,299±$13k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,100±$28k 12% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
$562,200±$29kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$260 19% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,776±$330Highest about the MA average |
| Mashpee 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
$3,762 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±9.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest 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% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Brewster 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 | #238 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA | #100 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dennis-Yarmouth | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brewster | Mashpee |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Mashpee Middle-High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.