What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rowley has the most kids (19.3% under 18).

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.

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

Measure	Rowley	Brewster
People
Population	6,251Lowest	10,420Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50±6.3Lowest 25% above MA	59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA
	Brewster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Rowley and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	55.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Rowley and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA	$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average
	Rowley and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA	$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA
	Brewster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA	$1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA
	Rowley and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,309Highest 39% above MA	$4,397Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±27.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brewster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%	6.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 3% below MA	21 minLowest 28% below MA
Work from home	11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.3%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Brewster and Rowley 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	#214 of 282 in MA	#160 of 282 in MA
School district	Triton	Brewster
High school in town	None 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.