Compare towns
Harwich vs Hingham 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
Harwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Hingham has the highest household income ($178k).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mashpee has the most affordable homes ($562k 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 | Harwich | Hingham | Brewster | Mashpee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,598 |
24,283Highest |
10,420Lowest |
15,384 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
55.9±1.8 40% above MA |
| Brewster and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Brewster and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mashpee and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,966±$13k 7% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$95,299±$13kLowest 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$562,200±$29kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,017±$738 14% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,776±$330 about the MA average |
| Hingham and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,189 30% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
$3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.8% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 14% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #157 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA | #100 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Hingham | Brewster | Mashpee |
| High school in town | Monomoy Regional High School | Hingham High | None in town | Mashpee Middle-High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
12.9Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.