Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Upton vs Truro 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Truro has the most people working from home (35.2%).
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 | Upton | Truro | North Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,404 |
8,189Highest |
1,708Lowest |
2,085 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+22.5% MA: +7.4% |
+27.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
64.1±5.8Highest 60% above MA |
62.9±4.4 57% above MA |
| Truro and North 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% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
10.7%±4.8 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% |
45.6%±10.1 MA: 17.9% |
47%±7.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Eastham and Truro 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% |
57.9% MA: 47.3% |
49.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±5.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.7%±2.3Lowest 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±$27k 13% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$118,984±$72k 14% above MA |
$77,442±$5kLowest 26% below MA |
| Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$888,200±$117kHighest 58% above MA |
$689,300±$88k 23% 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±$597 11% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
— | $1,688±$118Highest 4% below MA |
| North Eastham 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 |
$3,997Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,789 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
74%±50.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Truro 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
10.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.2%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 |
1980 16 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 |
30 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.2%±22.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Truro 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 | — | — |
| School district | Wellfleet | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Truro | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | 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.