Compare towns
Eastham vs Orleans 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%).
Orleans has the highest household income ($102k).
Chatham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Orleans | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,811Lowest |
6,415 |
6,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5Lowest 51% above MA |
64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA |
63.4±2.8 59% above MA |
| Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Eastham and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
49.3%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
45.5%±5.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Chatham 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% |
58.8% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Chatham and Orleans 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 |
$102,335±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$85,167±$9k 18% below MA |
| Orleans and Chatham 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 |
$957,000±$85kHighest 70% above MA |
$942,800±$78k 68% above MA |
| Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101Highest about the MA average |
$1,502±$703 15% below MA |
$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
| Eastham and Orleans 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 |
$5,486Highest 8% below MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±22.7Lowest 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% |
8.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
24 minHighest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Orleans and Chatham 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 | #158 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Nauset · Orleans | Monomoy Regional School District |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.