Compare towns

Wellfleet vs Marshfield 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%).
Marshfield has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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.

MeasureWellfleetMarshfieldEastham
People
Population
4,404Lowest
25,879Highest
5,811
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+29.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+16.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
58.4±4.1
46% above MA
45.9±2.6Lowest
15% 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%
19.6%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
12.5%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Marshfield 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%
20.2%±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%
52.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
54.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Marshfield 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
$125,986±$8kHighest
21% above MA
$72,992±$8kLowest
30% below MA
Marshfield 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
$680,300±$27kLowest
21% above 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
$1,772±$123Highest
about the MA average
$1,747±$101
about the MA average
Marshfield 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
$6,656Highest
11% above MA
$4,973
17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.6%±23.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
68.1%±10.1
MA: 51.8%
83.8%±77.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
Eastham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.2%
MA: 10%
8.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
MA: 62.5%
80.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
87.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
19% above MA
35 minHighest
19% above MA
19 minLowest
36% below MA
Work from home
20.7%±7.4
MA: 18.6%
24.8%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.4%±6.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Marshfield 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 — #54 of 282 in MA #17 of 282 in MA
School district Wellfleet Marshfield Eastham · Nauset
High school in town None in town Marshfield High Nauset Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.0Highest
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.