Compare towns
Eastham vs Upton vs Brewster vs Orleans
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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Orleans has the most renters (33% rent).
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 | Upton | Brewster | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,811 |
8,189 |
10,420Highest |
1,480Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
64±8.9Highest 60% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
7.8%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
45.1%±14.8Highest 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brewster and Upton 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$78,359±$16k 25% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63kHighest 30% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$582,000±$111k 4% 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,040±$876 41% 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 | $4,973 17% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
$3,427Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
24.1%±7.5Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
67%Lowest 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 |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
19 min 35% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.9%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Orleans and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA | #158 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brewster | — |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | Blackstone Valley | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.