Compare towns
Eastham vs Scituate 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%).
Scituate has the most kids (22.1% 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 | Scituate | Harwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,811 |
5,796Lowest |
13,598Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
51.7±3.8Lowest 29% 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% |
22.1%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5Lowest 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% |
64.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Scituate 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 |
$124,549±$27kHighest 20% above MA |
$96,966±$13k 7% below MA |
| Scituate 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±$63k 30% above MA |
$821,600±$82kHighest 46% above MA |
$658,600±$26kLowest 17% above MA |
| Scituate 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 |
$884±$721Lowest 50% 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 |
$8,345Highest 39% above MA |
$4,189Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Harwich 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% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
26.6%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Scituate and 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 | #43 of 282 in MA | #157 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | — | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | — | 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.