What stands out worked out from the figures below

Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).

Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Eastham	Northbridge
People
Population	5,811Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northbridge 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	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,200±$63kHighest 30% above MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,747±$101Highest about the MA average	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Highest 17% below MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Eastham and Northbridge 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%	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 36% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	20.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Eastham and Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Eastham · Nauset	Northbridge
High school in town	Nauset Regional High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.