Compare towns
Orleans vs Chatham vs Eastham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has the highest household income ($102k).
Chatham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
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 | Orleans | Chatham | Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
6,681Highest |
5,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA |
63.4±2.8 59% above MA |
60.4±2.5Lowest 51% above MA |
| Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Eastham and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 49.3%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
45.5%±5.4 MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.8% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Chatham and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,335±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$85,167±$9k 18% below MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
| Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $957,000±$85kHighest 70% above MA |
$942,800±$78k 68% above MA |
$732,200±$63kLowest 30% above MA |
| Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,502±$703 15% below MA |
$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,747±$101Highest about the MA average |
| Eastham and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,486Highest 8% below MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±22.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
24 minHighest 18% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 27.4%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Orleans and Chatham 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 | #158 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nauset · Orleans | Monomoy Regional School District | Eastham · Nauset |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nauset Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.