Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Upton vs Nahant vs Chatham
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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Nahant has the most renters (21.1% rent).
Chatham has the shortest commute (24 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 | Upton | Nahant | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,404 |
8,189Highest |
3,325Lowest |
6,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
60.7±2.9 52% above MA |
63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
| Chatham 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest 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% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chatham 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Nahant and Chatham 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 |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
$85,167±$9kLowest 18% 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±$70k 52% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
| Chatham 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
$1,485±$209 16% below MA |
| Nahant 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chatham 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% 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 |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Chatham and Upton 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 | #129 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellfleet | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nahant | Monomoy Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.