Compare towns
Eastham vs Hingham vs Chatham vs Orleans
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%).
Hingham has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Chatham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Orleans has the oldest population (median age 64.7).
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 | Hingham | Chatham | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,811Lowest |
24,283Highest |
6,681 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+7.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
63.4±2.8 59% above MA |
64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA |
| Orleans and Chatham 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
10.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
45.5%±5.4 MA: 17.9% |
49.3%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Chatham 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% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
58.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Chatham and Hingham 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$85,167±$9k 18% below MA |
$102,335±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63kLowest 30% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$942,800±$78k 68% above MA |
$957,000±$85k 70% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,502±$703 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
$5,486 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±22.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
80.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Orleans 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA | #158 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Hingham | Monomoy Regional School District | Nauset · Orleans |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | Hingham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.