Brewster is a medium-sized coastal town (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of Massachusetts. With a population of 10,381 people and two associated neighborhoods, Brewster is the 180th largest community in Massachusetts.
Housing costs in Brewster are among some of the highest in the nation, although real estate prices here don't compare to real estate prices in the most expensive communities in Massachusetts.
Of important note, Brewster is also a town of artists. Brewster has more artists, designers and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America. This concentration of artists helps shape Brewster’s character.
Also of interest is that Brewster has more people living here who work in computers and math than 95% of the places in the US.
One interesting thing about the economy is that relatively large numbers of people worked from their home: 15.13% of the workforce. While this number may seem small overall, as a fraction of the total workforce this is high compared to the rest of the county. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.
Another notable thing is that Brewster is a major vacation destination. Much of the town’s population is seasonal: many people own second homes and only live there part-time, during the vacation season. The effect on the local economy is that many of the businesses are dependent on tourist dollars, and may operate only during the high season. As the vacation season ends, Brewster’s population drops significantly, such that year-round residents will notice that the city is a much quieter place to live.
Brewster is a good choice for families with children because of several factors. Many other families with children live here, making it a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic success. Many people own their own single-family homes, providing areas for children to play and stability in the community. Finally, Brewster’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country.
It is a fairly quiet town because there are relatively few of those groups of people who have a tendency to be noisy. (Children, for example, often can't help themselves from being noisy, and being parents ourselves, we know!) Brewster has relatively few families with children living at home, and is quieter because of it. Renters and college students, for their own reasons, can also be noisy. Brewster has few renters and college students. But the biggest reason it is quieter in Brewster than in most places in America, is that there are just simply fewer people living here. If you think trees make good neighbors, Brewster may be for you.
Brewster is also nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Such areas are often places that visitors and locals go for waterfront activities or taking in the scenery.
Do you have a 4-year college degree or graduate degree? If so, you may feel right at home in Brewster. 52.40% of adults here have a 4-year degree or graduate degree, whereas the national average for all cities and towns is just 21.84%.
The per capita income in Brewster in 2022 was $70,414, which is upper middle income relative to Massachusetts, and wealthy relative to the rest of the US. This equates to an annual income of $281,656 for a family of four. However, Brewster contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.
The people who call Brewster home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Brewster residents report their race to be White, followed by Asian. Important ancestries of people in Brewster include Irish, English, German, Italian, and Polish.
The most common language spoken in Brewster is English. Other important languages spoken here include Polish and Spanish.