Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Nahant 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%).
Nahant has the most renters (21.1% rent).
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 | Nahant | Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,404 |
3,325Lowest |
5,811Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1Lowest 46% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
| Nahant and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Wellfleet and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.3%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Eastham and Nahant 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% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below 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 |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
$732,200±$63kLowest 30% 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±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
| Nahant 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 |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Wellfleet and Eastham 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 | #17 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellfleet | Nahant | 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.