Compare towns
Orleans vs Hull 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
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 | Hull | Wellfleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
10,138Highest |
4,404Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA |
56.1±1.8Lowest 40% above MA |
58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
| Orleans and Wellfleet 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% |
11.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wellfleet and Hull 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% |
26.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.8% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hull and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,335±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$117,938±$27kHighest 13% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Hull 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 |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% 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 |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,563±$597 11% below MA |
| Hull and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,486 8% below MA |
$6,089Highest about the MA average |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.4%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nauset · Orleans | Hull | Wellfleet |
| High school in town | None in town | Hull High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.8 |
— |
| 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.