What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

Brewster has the most kids (13.1% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orleans	Brewster
People
Population	1,480Lowest	10,420Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	64±8.9Highest 60% above MA	59.6±4.7Lowest 49% above MA
	Orleans and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	7.8%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Brewster and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	45.1%±14.8Highest MA: 17.9%	38.6%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Orleans and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	2.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Brewster and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,359±$16kLowest 25% below MA	$103,317±$16kHighest about the MA average
	Brewster and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$582,000±$111kLowest 4% above MA	$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA
	Brewster and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,040±$876Lowest 41% below MA	$1,589±$465Highest 10% below MA
	Brewster and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,427Lowest 43% below MA	$4,397Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.1%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	14.1%Highest MA: 10%	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 35% below MA	21 minHighest 28% below MA
Work from home	25.9%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6%	20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Orleans 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	#158 of 282 in MA	#160 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Brewster
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.