Compare towns
Eastham vs Needham vs Brewster 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).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Needham | Brewster | North Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,811 |
32,459Highest |
10,420 |
2,085Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
59.6±4.7 49% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
49.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$77,442±$5k 26% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$689,300±$88kLowest 23% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,688±$118 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,789 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
10.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
91%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
22 min 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and North 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | — | Brewster | — |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | — | 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.