What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).

Rowley has the most kids (19.3% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wellfleet	Rowley
People
Population	4,404Lowest	6,251Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.4±4.1Highest 46% above MA	50±6.3Lowest 25% above MA
	Wellfleet and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Rowley and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.3%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%	21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Rowley 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	$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA
	Rowley 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	$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA	$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA
	Rowley 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	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Rowley 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%	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975 11 yrs newer than MA	1975 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	28 minLowest 3% below MA
Work from home	20.7%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wellfleet and Rowley 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	—	#214 of 282 in MA
School district	Wellfleet	Triton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.