Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Marblehead vs Eastham vs Truro
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 kids (22.3% under 18).
Eastham has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Truro has the oldest population (median age 64.1).
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 | Wellfleet | Marblehead | Eastham | Truro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,404 |
20,413Highest |
5,811 |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1% MA: +7.4% |
+22.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
64.1±5.8Highest 60% above MA |
| Truro and Eastham 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%±3 MA: 19.4% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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%±6 MA: 17.9% |
45.6%±10.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Truro and Eastham 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% |
57.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±5.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Truro and Marblehead 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 |
$118,984±$72k 14% above MA |
| Marblehead and Truro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,300±$70k 52% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$732,200±$63kLowest 30% above MA |
$888,200±$117k 58% above MA |
| Marblehead and Truro 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 | $4,862 19% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$3,997Lowest 33% 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%±77.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Truro and Eastham 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 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 |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.2%±22.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Truro and Marblehead 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 | — | #47 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wellfleet | Marblehead | Eastham · Nauset | Truro |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead High | Nauset Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.