Compare towns
Eastham vs Harwich vs Sutton 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%).
Harwich has the most renters (15.2% rent).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Harwich | Sutton | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,811Lowest |
13,598Highest |
9,452 |
6,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% 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% |
11.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton 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 |
$96,966±$13k 7% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$85,167±$9k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,485±$209 16% below MA |
| Harwich 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 |
$4,189 30% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1 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% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% MA: 62.5% |
84.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Chatham and Sutton 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 | #157 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Sutton | Monomoy Regional School District |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | Monomoy Regional High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.8 |
12.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.