Compare towns

Chatham vs Hull vs Wellfleet

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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
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.

MeasureChathamHullWellfleet
People
Population
6,681
10,138Highest
4,404Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%
MA: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+29.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
63.4±2.8Highest
59% above MA
56.1±1.8Lowest
40% above MA
58.4±4.1
46% above MA
Chatham and Wellfleet 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%
11.4%±2.2
MA: 19.4%
14.4%±5.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Wellfleet and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
45.5%±5.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
26.1%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
35.3%±5.8
MA: 17.9%
Chatham and Wellfleet 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%
50.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
64.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Hull 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
$115,485±$14k
11% above MA
$117,938±$27kHighest
13% above MA
Wellfleet and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$942,800±$78kHighest
68% above MA
$646,000±$38kLowest
15% above MA
$855,300±$70k
52% above MA
Chatham and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,485±$209Lowest
16% below MA
$2,081±$187Highest
18% above MA
$1,563±$597
11% below MA
Hull and Wellfleet 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
$6,089Highest
about the MA average
$4,862
19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.7%±21.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±14
MA: 51.8%
28.6%±23.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Chatham and Hull 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%
5.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
9.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%
MA: 62.5%
79.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
18% below MA
33 min
14% above MA
35 minHighest
19% above MA
Work from home
25.5%±7.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20.7%±7.4
MA: 18.6%
Chatham 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 #130 of 282 in MA #66 of 282 in MA —
School district Monomoy Regional School District — Wellfleet
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.