Compare towns
Chatham vs Wellfleet vs West Chatham
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 most people working from home (25.5%).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
West Chatham has the most affordable homes ($740k 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 | Wellfleet | West Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,681Highest |
4,404 |
1,258Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
58.4±4.1Lowest 46% above MA |
59.7±13.5 49% above MA |
| Chatham and West Chatham 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% |
14.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±8.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
42.1%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Chatham and West Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.6% MA: 47.3% |
73.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Chatham and West 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 |
$117,938±$27kHighest 13% above MA |
— |
| Wellfleet and Chatham 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 |
$855,300±$70k 52% above MA |
$739,600±$135kLowest 32% 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 |
$1,563±$597 11% below MA |
$1,772±$110Highest about the MA average |
| West Chatham and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,094 32% below MA |
$4,862Highest 19% below MA |
$2,980Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.7%±21.1 MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Chatham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% MA: 10% |
9.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
22%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±11Lowest 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 | — | — |
| 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.