What stands out worked out from the figures below

Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).

Rowley has the highest household income ($110k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Eastham	Rowley
People
Population	5,811Highest	1,708Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA	46.3±16.7Lowest 16% above MA
	Eastham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±6.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Rowley and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	57.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Rowley 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	$109,622±$17kHighest 5% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,200±$63kHighest 30% above MA	$614,800±$39kLowest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,747±$101Highest about the MA average	$1,663±$674Lowest 6% below MA
	Eastham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Lowest 17% below MA	$6,865Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8%	46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Eastham and Rowley 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%	6.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 36% below MA	25 minHighest 15% below MA
Work from home	20.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Eastham and Rowley 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	#214 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

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.