Compare towns
Eastham vs Acton vs Brewster vs Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Brewster has the most affordable homes ($708k median).
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($943k 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 | Eastham | Acton | Brewster | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,811Lowest |
24,155Highest |
10,420 |
6,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
63.4±2.8Highest 59% 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 | 12.5%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
45.5%±5.4Highest 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+ | 54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$85,167±$9k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
| Acton and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1 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 | 10.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #17 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Acton-Boxborough | Brewster | Monomoy Regional School District |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| 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.