Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Truro has the most people working from home (35.2%).
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 | Reading | Truro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,404 |
25,612Highest |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+22.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
57.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±5.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Truro 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±$27kLowest 13% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$118,984±$72k 14% above MA |
| Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$888,200±$117kHighest 58% above MA |
| Truro and Wellfleet 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 |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
— |
| Reading and Wellfleet 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,997Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Truro and Wellfleet 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.2%±22.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Truro and Reading 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wellfleet | Reading | Truro |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.