Compare towns
Eastham vs Rowley vs Harwich
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%).
Rowley has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
Harwich has the most affordable homes ($659k 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 | Rowley | Harwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,811Lowest |
6,251 |
13,598Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
50±6.3Lowest 25% above MA |
58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
| Eastham and Harwich 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% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Eastham and Harwich 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Harwich 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 |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$96,966±$13k 7% below MA |
| Rowley and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63kHighest 30% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$658,600±$26kLowest 17% above MA |
| Eastham and Rowley 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 |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
| Harwich 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,189Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4Lowest 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
28 minHighest 3% below MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Eastham and Harwich 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 | #157 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Triton | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | None in town | Monomoy Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.