Compare towns
Eastham vs Reading vs Chatham vs Brewster
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 most kids (22.8% under 18).
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($943k median).
Brewster has the most affordable homes ($708k 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 | Chatham | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,811Lowest |
25,612Highest |
6,681 |
10,420 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
| Chatham 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% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Chatham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Chatham 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 |
$85,167±$9k 18% below MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
$707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,589±$465 10% 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 |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Brewster 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% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Reading | Monomoy Regional School District | Brewster |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | Reading Memorial High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.