What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Wellfleet	Brewster
People
Population	4,404Lowest	10,420Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.4±4.1Lowest 46% above MA	59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA
	Brewster and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wellfleet and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.3%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Brewster and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	55.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wellfleet and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,938±$27kHighest 13% above MA	$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average
	Wellfleet and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA	$707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA	$1,589±$465Highest 10% below MA
	Brewster and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,862Highest 19% below MA	$4,397Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brewster and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Highest MA: 10%	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	85%Lowest 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	35 minHighest 19% above MA	21 minLowest 28% below MA
Work from home	20.7%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%	20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wellfleet 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	—	#160 of 282 in MA
School district	Wellfleet	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.