Compare towns
Acton vs Eastham vs Wellfleet vs Andover
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%).
Andover has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
5,811 |
4,404Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1% MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% 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%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest 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% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Andover and Acton 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±$70k 52% above MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Andover and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Andover and Acton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above 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% |
39.7%±7.7 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% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 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 |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Andover 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA | — | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Eastham · Nauset | Wellfleet | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Nauset Regional High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.