Compare towns
Eastham vs Reading vs Wellfleet vs North Eastham
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).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
North Eastham has the most affordable homes ($689k 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 | Wellfleet | North Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,811 |
25,612Highest |
4,404 |
2,085Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+27.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
62.9±4.4Highest 57% above MA |
| North Eastham 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% |
14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
47%±7.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Eastham 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% |
64.6% MA: 47.3% |
49.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wellfleet and Reading 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 |
$117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
$77,442±$5k 26% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA |
$689,300±$88kLowest 23% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Reading 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 |
$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
$1,688±$118 4% 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 |
$4,862 19% below MA |
$4,789Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
74%±50.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and North Eastham 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
10.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
91%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
22 min 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and North 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | — | Wellfleet | — |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.