Compare towns
Harwich vs Wareham 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%).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Brewster has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Wareham | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,598 |
23,302Highest |
10,420Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
52.1±3.1Lowest 30% 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% |
13.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,966±$13k 7% below MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$103,317±$16kHighest about the MA average |
| Brewster and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$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 |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% 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 |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,397Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 14% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Brewster and Harwich 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Wareham | Brewster |
| High school in town | Monomoy Regional High School | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
8.6Lowest |
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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.