Compare towns
Harwich vs Upton vs Brewster
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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Upton | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,598Highest |
8,189Lowest |
10,420 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Brewster and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,966±$13kLowest 7% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
| Brewster and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Harwich and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,189Lowest 30% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 14% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Brewster 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 | #157 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brewster |
| High school in town | Monomoy Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.