What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

Dennis has the most renters (21.1% rent).

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	Dennis
People
Population	13,598Lowest	14,868Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±1.5Lowest 47% above MA	59.5±2Highest 49% above MA
	Dennis and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.7%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	9%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Harwich and Dennis 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%	39.8%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dennis and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dennis 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	$88,154±$10kLowest 15% below MA
	Harwich and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$658,600±$26kHighest 17% above MA	$627,100±$28kLowest 12% above MA
	Harwich and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA	$1,420±$260Lowest 19% below MA
	Harwich and Dennis 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	$2,877Lowest 52% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.7%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	59.2%±9.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dennis 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%	6.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 14% below MA	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	17.3%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6%	16.9%±5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Harwich and Dennis 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	#238 of 282 in MA
School district	Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical	Dennis-Yarmouth
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.