Are you thinking about moving to Brewster, MA or the general Lower Cape area? The Town of Brewster is famous for the Brewster Flats, beautiful Cape Cod beaches, and world-class resorts. The coastal town offers a laid-back, peaceful atmosphere during the off-season yet plenty of action and fun during the summer!
Here’s everything you can look forward to while living in Brewster, Cape Cod’s charming town on the elbow.
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Where Is Brewster MA?
The Town of Brewster is in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It’s the 9th largest of 15 towns on Cape Cod. Brewster is in the Lower Cape region or the “elbow” of the Cape. This coastal town is on the north shore of Cape Cod on Cape Cod Bay.
Brewster is bordered by Orleans to the east, Harwich to the south, and Dennis to the west. The Town of Chatham is less than ten miles south on the Lower Cape.
It’s 85 miles from Brewster, MA to Boston and 91 miles to Providence, RI.
Brewster, MA Population & Demographics
The population of the Town of Brewster is 10,318 according to the 2020 Census, up almost 5% from 9,820 in 2010. During the summer, the population more than doubles to over 20,000 people!
Cape Cod has very little diversity with a population that’s around 96% white. Brewster has similar demographics. The racial and ethnic composition is 97% white, 1.6% Hispanic, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.1% African American or Black, and 2% two or more races. The foreign-born population is just 4.5%.
Like most areas of Cape Cod, the Town of Brewster also has a high median age of 56.5. That’s higher than the Cape Cod average (54) and well above the national median age of 36. It’s one of the top destinations for Cape Cod retirement!
Brewster has a skewed sex ratio, also typical of many Cape Cod towns. There are 53 females for every 47 males over 18.
The Brewster, Massachusetts median household income is $81,625, higher than average for Barnstable County. The population of Brewster is highly educated with more than 47% of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher!
Brewster, Mass Cost of Living
The cost of living in Brewster is high – it’s one of the most expensive places to live on Cape Cod! Overall, the Cape Cod cost of living is 28.5% above the national average and right at the Mass average. The Brewster cost of living is 36% higher than the national average.
While healthcare is affordable in the area, groceries and utilities on Cape Cod are around 15% higher than the rest of the country. Transportation costs are also high too and you’ll be very dependent on driving. The cost of housing is the biggest factor pushing the cost of living so high.
The $850,000 median home price in Brewster is more than double the national average sales price of $407,000, a record high. You’ll also pay a Brewster property tax rate of $7.95 per $1,000 of assessed value. That’s a property tax bill of $6,758 on the median home.
Brewster MA Real Estate & Average Rent – Where to Live in Brewster
Are you planning to rent or buy a house after moving to Brewster? The town may be small, but you’ll find many options.
Brewster has several villages. East Brewster and West Brewster together form the Brewster CDP which has a population of 2,000. East Brewster is the most affordable area to live with median home prices more than $400,000 below West Brewster and the Town of Brewster. Brewster Village is the smaller waterfront community in the town and the most affluent area.
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There are also a few condos in Brewster, MA that offer great amenities and potentially more affordable prices.
The Colony Brewster MA is a self-managed condo complex with 142 two-story units, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, and more. Condo fees are $425 per month.
Sears Point Condominiums is a 62-unit complex on 30 acres. This development offers private beach access, a beach house and deck, a clubhouse with a pool, and more with HOA fees of $829 per month.
If you’re going to buy, be prepared for high home prices, limited options, and stiff competition. The Cape Cod housing crisis has led to skyrocketing prices and historically low inventory.
The median home price on Cape Cod is $650,000 in June 2022 with homes selling in a median of 9 days. That’s up from $290,000 at the start of 2020, well over double in just 2.5 years.
Brewster real estate is more expensive than the Cape Cod average and in more demand. Brewster MA homes for sale have a median price of $850,000 and spend just 6 median days on market.
You’ll find more affordable prices in East Brewster which has a median price of just $350,000. In West Brewster, MA, homes sell for a median $780,000. South Brewster has a similar median price of $770,000.
Note that Brewster, MA real estate is lumped into two broad categories: year-round or long-term residency and short-term vacation rentals or summer housing. Rentals are very limited. More than 90% of residents own their home, and rentals are usually limited to single-family homes and summer rentals. One of the only apartment buildings is the King’s Landing Brewster, MA community with 108 units on 17 acres. Rent starts at $1,200.
Ready to explore your options? Here are some of the best Brewster, MA neighborhoods, condominiums, and retirement communities.
Ocean Edge – Prestigious & Family-Friendly Resort Condo Development with Private Beach Access
This prestigious and family-friendly resort and golf club is next to Ellis Landing Beach. It offers a private, centrally located community of villas called The Villages. Brewster Ocean Edge is the largest resort condo complex on the Lower Cape with apartments, patio homes, and three-bedroom townhomes. The community offers playgrounds, indoor and outdoor homes, private beach access, tennis courts, an acclaimed 18-hole golf course, and more. You’ll find condos starting in the $400s!
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Maplewood at Brewster – One of the Best Cape Cod Retirement Communities
Maplewood Senior Living is one of the top Cape Cod 55+ communities with independent and assisted living. If you’re thinking about moving to Brewster for retirement, or you’re relocating within the area and need a little help and peace of mind, you’ll love their amenities and spacious floor plans. Enjoy manicured grounds with patios and gardens, resort-style amenities, and plenty of social and recreational activities.
Brewster Village – One of the Most Desirables Areas to Live on the Lower Cape
Brewster Village is a small section of the Town of Brewster on the coast. About 1,500 people live in the village which has a much higher median age of 63.5 compared to the already high 56.5 for the town overall. You’ll find the most magnificent Brewster houses for sale here with bayfront homes and luxury townhomes. This is the best place to live for easy access to the best public beaches on Cape Cod. Be prepared to pay $450 to $950 per square foot with many homes selling for more than $1 to $2 million.
Brewster MA Weather & Climate – What to Expect While Living in Brewster Year-Round
Brewster, Massachusetts has a humid continental climate. While living in Brewster, you’ll enjoy mild, cool summers and winters that are usually wet and cold.
During the summer, average temperatures range from the mid-60s to high 70s. Winter temperatures are usually in the mid-30s during the day.
You’ll get about 25” of snowfall and 48” of annual rainfall so make sure you invest in good tires, an umbrella, and boots!
Things to Do in Brewster MA
Ready to see the fun things to do in Brewster? This Cape Cod Bay town offers great beaches, outdoor recreation, and family-friendly attractions. Here are some of the things you can look forward to after moving to Brewster, Mass.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
Ocean Edge is one of the best Cape Cod resorts. Enjoy private villas, restaurants, private beach access, spa services, kayaking on Blueberry Pond, and a gorgeous 18-hole private gold course on 429 acres.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club Beach, 2907 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631 (508) 896-9000
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Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
A popular Cape Cod museum, you’ll find interactive exhibits and activities about the local wildlife and ecology.
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, 869 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631 (508) 896-3867
Long Pond
Shared by Harwich and Brewster, Long Pond is one of the top Cape Cod attractions! At over 700 acres, it’s Cape Cod’s largest freshwater pond and popular for boating, swimming, and fishing.
Long Pond Beach and Boat Ramp, 213 Long Pond Dr, Harwich, MA 02645
Nickerson State Park
Explore over 1,900 acres of woodland, Cape Cod’s largest state forest. There’s camping, hiking and biking trails, and ponds with trout fishing.
Nickerson State Park, 3488 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631 (508) 896-3491
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Sweetwater Forest Cape Cod Family Campground
A popular destination for locals and Cape Cod visitors, Sweetwater Forest is the best Cape Cod camping facility with 250 wooded campsites on 75 acres.
Sweetwater Forest Cape Cod Family Campground, 676 Harwich Rd, Brewster, MA 02631 (508) 896-3773
Brewster Beaches
One of the many benefits of living in Brewster is getting to enjoy the fantastic beaches in Brewster, MA year-round! Here are the best Cape Cod beaches you’ll love, right in your own backyard. Just make sure you check the Brewster tide chart before visiting.
- Brewster Flats Cape Cod is a natural phenomenon for which Brewster is famous. Close to shore, watch as the bay waters ebb and flow to reveal clam beds, tide pools, and sandbars.
- Breakwater Beach, a popular beach for families and tide pools to explore at low tide.
- Mant’s Landing, a quiet beach with kayaks for rent and calm waters.
- Ellis Landing Beach, a rocky, family-friendly beach perfect for catching crabs!
- Crosby Landing Beach is one of the Cape’s most beautiful beaches and it’s for Brewster residents only.
- Paine’s Creek Beach is one of the best beaches in Brewster, MA for watching the sunset.
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Top Restaurants in Brewster MA
While living in Brewster, Cape Cod, you’ll have your fill of local seafood with chowder, fried fish, and clams served at many popular restaurants. Here are a few of the most exciting Brewster restaurants to check out.
- The Woodshed. Woodshed Brewster is a popular locals’ bar and live music venue that’s open 7 nights a week! They serve traditional pub fare. Woodshed, 1993 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631 (508) 896-7771
- Kate’s Fried Seafood & Ice Cream. A local favorite, this small, seasonal eatery has a walk-up window serving ice cream and local fried fish sandwiches, shrimp, and burgers. Kate’s Fried Seafood & Ice Cream, Paine’s, 284 Paine’s Creek Rd, Brewster, MA 02631 (508) 896-9517
- The Brewster Fish House. One of the most upscale Brewster MA restaurants, this seafood restaurant boasts refined seafood dishes served in a beautiful cottage. The Brewster Fish House, 2208 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631 (508) 896-7867
- Brewster Inn and Chowder House. Popular with locals and tourists alike, the Brewster Chowder House is a pub attached to the 150-year-old guesthouse known for its fish sandwiches, French onion soup, and clam chowder. Brewster Inn & Chowder House, 1933 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631 (508) 896-7771
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Jobs in Brewster
Like most of Cape Cod, the Brewster economy centers around hospitality, food service, tourism, and healthcare. Many jobs in the community are seasonal as a large share of businesses and services shut down during the off-season. During the summer, the population doubles and about 20,000 seasonal jobs are created.
Fishing and shellfishing contribute to the local economy with the fisheries out of the nearby Chatham and Dennis ports bringing in the vast majority of Cape Cod catches.
For the 4th quarter of 2021, there were 2,500 jobs in Brewster, MA with an average weekly wage of $1,104. That’s a good example of earnings for full-time work during the off-season. During the summer, there are more than 3,200 jobs with an average weekly wage of $868. The average salary is $77,000 according to Payscale.
Major employers in Brewster include:
- Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club (careers)
- The Family School and Brewster Day Camp
- Pleasant Bay Nursing & Rehab Center
- Cape Cod National Golf Club
- Cape Representative Theatre
- Brewster Green Resort
- Nauset Public Schools (Brewster school district jobs)
- Town of Brewster
- Barnstable County
You can explore Town of Brewster jobs or search for jobs on Indeed to get an idea of your career opportunities before moving to Brewster, MA.
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Brewster Schools
While living in Brewster, Mass., you will be served by the Nauset Regional School District. Nauset Public Schools serves Brewster, Orleans, Wellfleet, and Eastham.
Students living in the Town of Brewster attend Stony Brook Elementary School (K-2) and Eddy Elementary School (3-5) in Brewster. Most students Nauset Middle School in neighboring Orleans then Nauset Regional High School in North Eastham. Alternative schools include the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School (East Harwich) for middle school and the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School (Harwich).
For higher education, families can attend nearby Cape Cod colleges and universities:
- Cape Cod Community College (4Cs) in West Barnstable
- Bridgewater State University Cape Cod in South Yarmouth
- Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne
Brewster Statistics & Information
- County: Barnstable County, Massachusetts
- Area: 22.9 square miles
- Brewster zip code: 02631
- Area codes: 508 and 774
- Elevation: 39 feet
- Time zone: UTC-5 (Eastern)
- Closest airports: Cape Cod Gateway Airport (HYA) in Hyannis & Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston
Brewster MA Map
Use this map of Brewster, Mass to explore the area, restaurants, and things to do!
Does living in Brewster, Massachusetts seem like the life for you? Call the Brewster movers at Vanguard Moving Services to discuss your upcoming move and how we can give you the stress-free moving day you deserve.
