Compare towns
Eastham vs Orleans vs Brewster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Orleans has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Brewster has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Eastham | Orleans | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,811 |
1,480Lowest |
10,420Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
64±8.9Highest 60% above MA |
59.6±4.7Lowest 49% above MA |
| Orleans and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3 MA: 19.4% |
7.8%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Brewster and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
45.1%±14.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.4% MA: 47.3% |
51%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Brewster and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$78,359±$16k 25% below MA |
$103,317±$16kHighest about the MA average |
| Brewster and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63kHighest 30% above MA |
$582,000±$111kLowest 4% above MA |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
| Eastham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101Highest about the MA average |
$1,040±$876Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Eastham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Highest 17% below MA |
$3,427Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
24.1%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
19 min 35% below MA |
21 minHighest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
25.9%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Orleans and Eastham 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 | #17 of 282 in MA | #158 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | — | Brewster |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.