Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Needham | Truro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,404 |
32,459Highest |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+22.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
64.1±5.8Highest 60% above MA |
| Truro 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
45.6%±10.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Truro 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
57.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±5.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Truro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,938±$27kLowest 13% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$118,984±$72k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,300±$70kLowest 52% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$888,200±$117k 58% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,862 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,997Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Truro and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
35.2%±22.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Truro and Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wellfleet | Needham | Truro |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.