Compare towns
Eastham vs Milton vs Reading 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%).
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% rent).
Chatham has the oldest population (median age 63.4).
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 | Milton | Reading | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,811Lowest |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
6,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% 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% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Reading 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 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% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$85,167±$9k 18% below MA |
| Milton and Reading 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 |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
| Chatham and Milton 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 |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,485±$209 16% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Milton | Reading | Monomoy Regional School District |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.4Highest |
12.1 |
— |
| 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.