Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Provincetown 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%).
Provincetown has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Eastham has the most affordable homes ($732k median).
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 | Provincetown | Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,404 |
3,703Lowest |
5,811Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+24.5% MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
56.3±2.6Lowest 41% 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%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
25%±5.7Lowest 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% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
9.6%±6.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Provincetown 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 |
$136,904±$44kHighest 32% above MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
| Provincetown 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±$70k 52% above MA |
$902,200±$180kHighest 61% above MA |
$732,200±$63kLowest 30% above MA |
| Provincetown and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$597 11% below MA |
$1,261±$415Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,747±$101Highest about the MA average |
| Eastham and Wellfleet 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 |
$4,927 18% below MA |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Provincetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
76.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
13 minLowest 55% below MA |
19 min 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Provincetown 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 | — | #254 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellfleet | Provincetown | 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.