Compare towns
Hull vs Shirley vs Brewster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Brewster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Hull | Shirley | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,138 |
6,976Lowest |
10,420Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Shirley and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Shirley and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Hull and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089Highest about the MA average |
$5,156 14% below MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Brewster |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.