Compare towns
Eastham vs Ipswich vs North Eastham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eastham has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ipswich has the highest household income ($139k).
North Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
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 | Ipswich | North Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,811 |
13,930Highest |
2,085Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
47.2±3.5Lowest 18% above MA |
62.9±4.4Highest 57% above MA |
| North Eastham 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% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
47%±7.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Eastham 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% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ipswich 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 |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$77,442±$5k 26% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$689,300±$88kLowest 23% above MA |
| Ipswich and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101Highest about the MA average |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,688±$118 4% below MA |
| Eastham and North 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 |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$4,789Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
74%±50.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and North Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
22 min 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Eastham 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Ipswich | — |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | Ipswich High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.

