Compare towns
Chatham vs Concord vs Harwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the oldest population (median age 63.4).
Concord has the most kids (23.6% under 18).
Harwich has the most affordable homes ($659k median).
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 | Chatham | Concord | Harwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,681Lowest |
18,223Highest |
13,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
47.6±2Lowest 19% above MA |
58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% MA: 47.3% |
79.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,167±$9kLowest 18% below MA |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
$96,966±$13k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $942,800±$78k 68% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$658,600±$26kLowest 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$2,017±$738 14% above MA |
| Concord and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,189 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.7%±21.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Chatham and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Chatham 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 | #130 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA | #157 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Concord Carlisle High | Monomoy Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.