Compare towns
Chatham vs Needham vs Eastham vs Brewster
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).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Brewster has the most affordable homes ($708k 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 | Needham | Eastham | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,681 |
32,459Highest |
5,811Lowest |
10,420 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
| Chatham and Eastham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$9k 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $942,800±$78k 68% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.7%±21.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Brewster 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% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District | Needham | Eastham · Nauset | Brewster |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Nauset Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.