What stands out worked out from the figures below

Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Eastham	Chatham
People
Population	5,811Lowest	6,681Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.4±2.5Lowest 51% 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%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Eastham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.9%±6Lowest 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%	60.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Chatham and Eastham 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	$85,167±$9kHighest 18% below MA
	Chatham and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,200±$63kLowest 30% above MA	$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,747±$101Highest about the MA average	$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA
	Eastham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Highest 17% below MA	$4,094Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8%	58.7%±21.1Lowest 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	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%	10.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 36% below MA	24 minHighest 18% below MA
Work from home	20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.5%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Chatham and Eastham 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	#130 of 282 in MA
School district	Eastham · Nauset	Monomoy Regional School District
High school in town	Nauset Regional High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.