Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Ashfield vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Nahant has the most renters (21.1% rent).
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 | Wellfleet | Ashfield | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,404Highest |
1,893Lowest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1Lowest 46% above MA |
58.6±3.4 47% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Nahant and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wellfleet and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Nahant and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Highest 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 | $117,938±$27kHighest 13% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% 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 | $1,563±$597 11% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
| Nahant and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield 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 | — | — | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellfleet | Mohawk Trail | Nahant |
| High school in town | None 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.