Compare towns
Eastham vs Lancaster vs Wellfleet 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 the shortest commute (19 min average).
Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
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 | Lancaster | Wellfleet | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,811 |
8,606Highest |
4,404Lowest |
6,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
58.4±4.1 46% 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% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Chatham and Lancaster 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
$85,167±$9k 18% below MA |
| Lancaster and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$855,300±$70k 52% above MA |
$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
| Chatham and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,563±$597 11% below MA |
$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,862 19% below MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #130 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Nashoba | Wellfleet | Monomoy Regional School District |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.