What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harwich has the most kids (11.7% under 18).

Chatham has the most people working from home (25.5%).

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	Harwich	Chatham
People
Population	13,598Highest	6,681Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±1.5Lowest 47% above MA	63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA
Kids under 18	11.7%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Harwich and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Chatham and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,966±$13kHighest 7% below MA	$85,167±$9kLowest 18% below MA
	Harwich and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$658,600±$26kLowest 17% above MA	$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA	$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA
	Harwich and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,189Highest 30% below MA	$4,094Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.7%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.7%±21.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Chatham and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest MA: 10%	10.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 14% below MA	24 minLowest 18% below MA
Work from home	17.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.5%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Chatham 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	#157 of 282 in MA	#130 of 282 in MA
School district	Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical	Monomoy Regional School District
High school in town	Monomoy Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	6 photos →	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.