Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Sutton vs Nahant vs North 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 the most expensive homes ($855k median).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Nahant has the most renters (21.1% rent).
North Eastham has the shortest commute (22 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 | Sutton | Nahant | North Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,404 |
9,452Highest |
3,325 |
2,085Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+27.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
60.7±2.9 52% above MA |
62.9±4.4Highest 57% above MA |
| North Eastham and Nahant 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Wellfleet 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
47%±7.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
49.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Nahant 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
$77,442±$5kLowest 26% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
$689,300±$88k 23% 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±$597 11% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
$1,688±$118 4% below MA |
| Nahant and North Eastham 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
$4,789Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
74%±50.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
10.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and North 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wellfleet | Sutton | Nahant | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.