Compare towns
Harwich vs Chatham vs Mashpee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Chatham has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Mashpee has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
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 | Harwich | Chatham | Mashpee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,598 |
6,681Lowest |
15,384Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
55.9±1.8Lowest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 11.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mashpee and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mashpee and Chatham 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 |
$95,299±$13k 8% below MA |
| Harwich and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
$562,200±$29kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,776±$330 about the MA average |
| Harwich and Mashpee 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 |
$4,094 32% below MA |
$3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest 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% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 14% below MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
27 minHighest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Lowest 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 | #100 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Monomoy Regional School District | Mashpee |
| High school in town | Monomoy Regional High School | None in town | Mashpee Middle-High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.