Compare towns
Eastham vs Northbridge vs Upton vs Harwich
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%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Northbridge | Upton | Harwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,811Lowest |
16,458Highest |
8,189 |
13,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
| Eastham and Harwich 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% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Eastham and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Upton 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±$19k 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$96,966±$13k 7% below MA |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63kHighest 30% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
| Eastham and Harwich 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 |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
| Harwich 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 |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,189Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Harwich 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #157 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | Monomoy Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.8 |
11.2 |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.