Compare towns

Eastham vs Reading 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 highest household income ($166k).
North Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).

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.

MeasureEasthamReadingNorth Eastham
People
Population
5,811
25,612Highest
2,085Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.1%
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+27.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
60.4±2.5
51% above MA
43.7±2.3Lowest
9% 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%
10.7%±4.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
40.9%±6
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±2.3Lowest
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%
49.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
1.7%±2.3Lowest
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
$77,442±$5k
26% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$732,200±$63k
30% above MA
$809,000±$22kHighest
44% above MA
$689,300±$88kLowest
23% 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
$1,688±$118Lowest
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
$4,789Lowest
20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
83.8%±77.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
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%
10.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
MA: 62.5%
82.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
91%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
36% below MA
31 minHighest
6% above MA
22 min
25% below MA
Work from home
20.4%±6.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
30.2%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.9%±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 Reading —
High school in town Nauset Regional High Reading Memorial High —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
12.1Highest
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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.