Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Wakefield vs 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%).
Wakefield has the most kids (20% under 18).
Eastham has the shortest commute (19 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 | Wakefield | Eastham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,404Lowest |
27,793Highest |
5,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
| Eastham and Wellfleet 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% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Eastham and Wellfleet 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% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wakefield 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 |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
| Wakefield 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 |
$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA |
$732,200±$63k 30% 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±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Wellfleet 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellfleet | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Eastham · Nauset |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Nauset Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.