What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Harwich	Mashpee
People
Population	13,598Lowest	15,384Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±1.5Highest 47% above MA	55.9±1.8Lowest 40% above MA
	Harwich and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.7%±2.5Lowest 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%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9%	33.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Harwich and Mashpee 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%	44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Mashpee 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	$95,299±$13kLowest 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±$26kHighest 17% above MA	$562,200±$29kLowest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA	$1,776±$330Lowest 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	$3,762Lowest 37% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.7%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%	44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Harwich and Mashpee 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%	5.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	81.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 14% below MA	27 minHighest 6% below MA
Work from home	17.3%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6%	14.5%±3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Harwich and Mashpee 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	#100 of 282 in MA
School district	Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical	Mashpee
High school in town	Monomoy Regional High School	Mashpee Middle-High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	9.6Lowest
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.