Compare towns
Orleans vs Orleans 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 most expensive homes ($957k median).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($582k median).
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 | Orleans | Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Highest |
1,480Lowest |
5,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA |
64±8.9 60% above MA |
60.4±2.5Lowest 51% above MA |
| Orleans and Orleans 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% |
7.8%±4.7Lowest 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% |
45.1%±14.8 MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Orleans and Eastham 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 |
$78,359±$16k 25% below MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
| Orleans 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 |
$582,000±$111kLowest 4% above MA |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,502±$703 15% below MA |
$1,040±$876Lowest 41% 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 |
$3,427Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
24.1%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% MA: 62.5% |
67%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 24% below MA |
19 min 35% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 27.4%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.9%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Orleans and Orleans 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 | #158 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nauset · Orleans | — | Eastham · Nauset |
| High school 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.