Compare towns
Eastham vs Needham vs Wellfleet
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).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
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 | Needham | Wellfleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,811 |
32,459Highest |
4,404Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
| Eastham and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Eastham and Wellfleet 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Wellfleet 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63kLowest 30% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$855,300±$70k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Needham 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% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #17 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Needham | Wellfleet |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.