Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Upton vs Eastham 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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Eastham has the shortest commute (19 min average).
North Eastham has the oldest population (median age 62.9).
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 | Upton | Eastham | North Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,404 |
8,189Highest |
5,811 |
2,085Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1% MA: +7.4% |
+27.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
62.9±4.4Highest 57% above MA |
| North Eastham and Eastham 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3 MA: 19.4% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
47%±7.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Eastham and Eastham 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
54.4% MA: 47.3% |
49.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wellfleet and Upton 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$77,442±$5k 26% below MA |
| Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$689,300±$88k 23% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Eastham 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,747±$101Highest about the MA average |
$1,688±$118 4% below MA |
| Eastham 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$4,789Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
74%±50.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and North Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
10.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.9% MA: 62.5% |
91%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
22 min 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wellfleet | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Eastham · Nauset | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Nauset Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.