Compare towns
Orleans vs Brewster vs Ashfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Brewster has the highest household income ($103k).
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
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 | Orleans | Brewster | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Lowest |
10,420Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 64±8.9Highest 60% above MA |
59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
58.6±3.4Lowest 47% 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% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Brewster and Ashfield 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%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Brewster and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $582,000±$111k 4% above MA |
$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below 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 |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
| Brewster and Ashfield 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 |
$4,397 27% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 35% below MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Orleans and Ashfield 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 | Mohawk Trail |
| 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.