Compare towns
Acton vs Eastham vs Wellfleet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Eastham has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
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 | Acton | Eastham | Wellfleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
5,811 |
4,404Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1% MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
| Eastham and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Eastham and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
| Acton and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$732,200±$63kLowest 30% above MA |
$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
| Acton and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Eastham · Nauset | Wellfleet |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Nauset Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.