Compare towns
Eastham vs Reading vs Orleans
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%).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($582k median).
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 | Reading | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,811 |
25,612Highest |
1,480Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
64±8.9Highest 60% above MA |
| Orleans 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
7.8%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
45.1%±14.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Reading 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$78,359±$16k 25% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$582,000±$111kLowest 4% above MA |
| Reading and Eastham 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 |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,040±$876Lowest 41% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,427Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
24.1%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
67%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
19 min 35% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.9%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Orleans 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #158 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | — | — |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | — | — |
| 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.