Compare towns
Hull vs Salem vs Brewster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the highest household income ($115k).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
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 | Hull | Salem | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,138Lowest |
30,964Highest |
10,420 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8 44% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
59.6±4.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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±$14kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$103,317±$16kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Hull and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38k 94% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$707,700±$51kHighest 113% above U.S. |
| 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 47% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,589±$465Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089 95% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,397Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.2%±23.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brewster and Hull 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hull | Salem School District | Brewster |
| High school in town | Hull High | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.