Compare towns
Canton 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
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Canton | Eastham | Wellfleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Highest |
5,811 |
4,404Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1% MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% 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 | 22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Lowest 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+ | 67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Canton and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
| Canton and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Highest 9% above MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Eastham · Nauset | Wellfleet |
| High school in town | Canton High | Nauset Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
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.