Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Lancaster vs Eastham
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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Eastham has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,404Lowest |
8,606Highest |
5,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
| Eastham and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Wellfleet 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Eastham 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
| Lancaster and Wellfleet 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Eastham 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellfleet | Nashoba | Eastham · Nauset |
| High school in town | None 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.