Compare towns
Chatham vs Eastham vs Needham vs Nahant
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).
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Nahant has the most renters (21.1% rent).
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 | Eastham | Needham | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,681 |
5,811 |
32,459Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
60.7±2.9 52% above MA |
| Chatham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Chatham and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% MA: 47.3% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,167±$9k 18% below MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $942,800±$78k 68% above MA |
$732,200±$63kLowest 30% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.7%±21.1 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Chatham 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% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #17 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District | Eastham · Nauset | Needham | Nahant |
| High school in town | None in town | Nauset Regional High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.