Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Brewster vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
Brewster has the most affordable homes ($708k median).
Newbury has the highest household income ($175k).
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 | Wellfleet | Brewster | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,404Lowest |
10,420Highest |
6,777 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
55.1±4.8Lowest 38% 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%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Newbury and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.5%±5.2Lowest 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% |
60.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Newbury and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$174,868±$59kHighest 68% above MA |
| Newbury and Wellfleet 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 |
$840,600±$40k 50% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,806±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Newbury and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,862 19% below MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,661Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Newbury 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% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
85%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.5%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Newbury and Wellfleet 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 | #137 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellfleet | Brewster | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Triton Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.