Population 172 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Wellfleet
Household size in South Wellfleet
| Period | South Wellfleet | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.74 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.77 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.19 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.07 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.33 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
South Wellfleet is a place of small households, averaging 2.07 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 1.74, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in South Wellfleet
| Period | South Wellfleet | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.7 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 63.4 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 54.7 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 55.3 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.6 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
South Wellfleet skews older: half of its residents are older than 55.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in South Wellfleet
| Period | South Wellfleet | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.8% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.0% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in South Wellfleet: 2.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in South Wellfleet
Renters in South Wellfleet
| Period | South Wellfleet | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.6% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
South Wellfleet is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than half of owners (54.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in South Wellfleet
| Period | South Wellfleet | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 66.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 65.2% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 69.4% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 59.1% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.0 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in South Wellfleet: 59.1% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in South Wellfleet
| Period | South Wellfleet | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Housing in South Wellfleet leans older: the median home dates to 1973, against 1980 nationally. Even so, homes here are newer than in Massachusetts overall, where the median home dates to 1963.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in South Wellfleet
| Period | South Wellfleet | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $716 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $843 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,073 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,563 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$847 | +$775 | +$606 |
Rent in South Wellfleet runs $1,563 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in Massachusetts as a whole ($1,860). The typical renter here spends 14.0% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in South Wellfleet
Bachelor's degrees in South Wellfleet
| Period | South Wellfleet | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 60.9% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 55.8% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 55.3% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 71.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.9 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
South Wellfleet is highly educated: about seven in ten adults 25 and older (71.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in South Wellfleet
| Period | South Wellfleet | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 99.6% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.2% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.9% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 99.2% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in South Wellfleet: 99.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in South Wellfleet
| Period | South Wellfleet | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.7% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.2% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in South Wellfleet: 8.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
South Wellfleet compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Wellfleet | 2.07 | 55.3 | 2.0% | 21.9% | 59.1% | 1973 | $1,563 | 71.9% | 99.2% | 8.1% |
| Wellfleet | 2.09 | 57.4 | 1.8% | 14.0% | 54.7% | 1975 | $1,563 | 67.4% | 98.8% | 9.7% |
| North Eastham | 1.90 | 59.3 | 6.9% | 13.9% | 55.7% | 1973 | $1,838 | 50.2% | 93.1% | 8.2% |
| Eastham | 1.94 | 59.4 | 6.0% | 11.2% | 51.3% | 1975 | $1,790 | 55.8% | 95.2% | 9.9% |
| Truro | 1.89 | 55.4 | 14.2% | 16.2% | 70.8% | 1981 | $1,677 | 64.0% | 97.0% | 0.0% |
| Orleans | 2.07 | 63.5 | 7.4% | 19.6% | 45.8% | 1978 | $1,401 | 59.3% | 99.0% | 2.8% |
| North Truro | 1.53 | 66.0 | 5.7% | 15.8% | 67.9% | 1977 | $1,678 | 53.6% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| South Orleans | 2.03 | 62.6 | 5.6% | 10.3% | 45.8% | 1980 | $1,857 | 57.8% | 99.3% | 4.0% |
| Pilgrim Heights | 1.54 | 64.3 | 5.7% | 3.1% | 72.5% | 1971 | $1,678 | 53.7% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Brewster | 2.20 | 58.2 | 4.2% | 14.8% | 44.6% | 1982 | $1,565 | 61.2% | 97.7% | 8.2% |
| Provincetown | 1.84 | 53.8 | 0.7% | 23.7% | 54.4% | 1961 | $1,293 | 62.5% | 96.9% | 7.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: North San Ysidro, NM · Oaks, MS · Oakmulgee, AL · Oak Flat, WV · Nutterville, WV · Noyes, MN · Novohrad, TX · Northfield, ME · Northampton, NY · Oakton, KY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up South Wellfleet. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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