Compare towns

Wellfleet vs Marblehead 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%).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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.

MeasureWellfleetMarbleheadEastham
People
Population
4,404Lowest
20,413Highest
5,811
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+29.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+16.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
58.4±4.1
46% above MA
49.1±2Lowest
23% 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%
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
12.5%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Marblehead 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%
22.7%±2.5Lowest
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%
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
54.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Marblehead 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±$27k
13% above MA
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$72,992±$8kLowest
30% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$855,300±$70k
52% above MA
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$732,200±$63kLowest
30% above MA
Marblehead and Wellfleet 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
$1,764±$147Highest
about the MA average
$1,747±$101
about the MA average
Marblehead 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
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$4,973
17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.6%±23.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8
MA: 51.8%
83.8%±77.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
Eastham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.2%
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
87.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
19% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
19 minLowest
36% below MA
Work from home
20.7%±7.4
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.4%±6.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #47 of 282 in MA #17 of 282 in MA
School district Wellfleet Marblehead Eastham · Nauset
High school in town None in town Marblehead High Nauset Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Highest
9.8Lowest
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.