Compare towns
Eastham vs Stoneham vs Brewster vs Nahant
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%).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k median).
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 | Stoneham | Brewster | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,811 |
23,355Highest |
10,420 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Nahant 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Eastham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Nahant 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 |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
| Stoneham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
| Nahant and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Stoneham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Stoneham | Brewster | Nahant |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | Stoneham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.7Highest |
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| 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.