Compare towns
Eastham vs Swampscott 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%).
Swampscott has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Brewster has the most affordable homes ($708k 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 | Swampscott | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,811Lowest |
15,277Highest |
10,420 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
| Eastham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 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% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Brewster 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 |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
| Swampscott and Brewster 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 |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
| Swampscott 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 |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Swampscott | Brewster |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | Swampscott High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— |
| 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.