Compare towns
Sandwich vs Nahant vs Wellfleet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandwich has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
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 | Sandwich | Nahant | Wellfleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,890Lowest |
3,325 |
4,404Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.1±3.9 48% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
58.4±4.1Lowest 46% above MA |
| Nahant and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Sandwich and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 41.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sandwich and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.6% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Nahant and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,321±$22k 13% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$117,938±$27kHighest 13% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $584,300±$43kLowest 4% above MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,789±$145Highest about the MA average |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
| Sandwich and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,393 7% above MA |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.1%±20.1 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Nahant and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±9.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Sandwich 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 | #77 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nahant | Wellfleet |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.