Compare towns
Orleans vs Eastham vs Wellfleet
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 most people working from home (27.4%).
Eastham has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
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 | Eastham | Wellfleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Highest |
5,811 |
4,404Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1% MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA |
60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
58.4±4.1Lowest 46% above MA |
| Orleans and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3 MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wellfleet and Eastham 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% |
40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Eastham 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% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wellfleet 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±$13k about the MA average |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$117,938±$27kHighest 13% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Orleans 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 |
$732,200±$63kLowest 30% above MA |
$855,300±$70k 52% above MA |
| Orleans and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,502±$703Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,747±$101Highest about the MA average |
$1,563±$597 11% below MA |
| Eastham and Wellfleet 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 |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Orleans 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.4%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Orleans and Wellfleet 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 | #17 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nauset · Orleans | Eastham · Nauset | Wellfleet |
| High school in town | None in town | Nauset Regional High | None in town |
| 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.