Harwich, Chatham, Brewster, Orleans and Eastham: prices, taxes, sewer and beaches side by side
The Lower Cape is five towns: Harwich, Chatham, Brewster, Orleans and Eastham. In the 12 months to 30 October 2026, 820 homes sold there at a median $865,500 (Cape Cod & Islands MLS). Chatham is the most expensive ($1,458,750) and has the lowest tax rate ($3.67 per $1,000); Brewster is the least expensive ($750,000), and its homes sold fastest (median 12 days).
By Arthur Radtke, Realtor, brokered by eXp Realty, MA licence #9582725. Updated .
Chatham: median $1,458,750 (178 sales). The five-town median is $865,500.
Brewster: median $750,000 (193 sales), then Harwich at $760,000.
Chatham, at $3.67 per $1,000 of assessed value (FY2026). Eastham is highest at $7.71.
Brewster: median 12 days on the market. Orleans is slowest at 27 days.
Parts of Harwich, Chatham and Orleans. Brewster and Eastham homes are on septic (Eastham: phase 1 planned).
Eastham: 57.1% of housing units. Harwich has the fewest, 38.8%.
Every figure below is from the Cape Cod & Islands MLS for the same 12 months, so the towns can be compared fairly.
| 12 months to 30 Oct 2026 | Harwich | Chatham | Brewster | Orleans | Eastham | 5 towns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $760,000 | $1,458,750 | $750,000 | $899,900 | $828,000 | $865,500 |
| Homes sold | 220 | 178 | 193 | 127 | 102 | 820 |
| Single-family median | $825,000 (182) | $1,535,000 (156) | $852,500 (122) | $1,100,000 (89) | $840,250 (94) | |
| Condo median | $427,000 (38) | $695,000 (21) | $469,950 (70) | $360,000 (38) | under 20 sales | |
| Median days on market | 13.5 | 16.5 | 12 | 27 | 24 | 16 |
| Sold in the first week | 36.4% | 34.8% | 38.3% | 27.6% | 34.3% | 34.9% |
| Had a price cut first | 31.8% | 24.7% | 24.9% | 37.8% | 30.4% | 29.4% |
| Sale price vs original ask | 97.65% | 97.32% | 98.48% | 95.83% | 96.85% | 97.32% |
| Paid cash | 39.1% | 44.4% | 42.5% | 44.9% | 42.2% | 42.3% |
| Tax rate, FY2026 (per $1,000) | $5.81 | $3.67 | $6.77 | $6.11 | $7.71 | |
| Seasonal homes | 38.8% | 54.5% | 41.4% | 47.0% | 57.1% | |
| Sewer | Phased expansion + septic | Expanding since 2012 | None; septic | Downtown + phased expansion | None yet; Phase 1 planned | |
| Beaches and water | Nantucket Sound and Pleasant Bay | Atlantic, Sound, Pleasant Bay | Cape Cod Bay and ponds | Nauset and Skaket | Bay and National Seashore | |
| Schools | Monomoy Regional | Monomoy Regional | Nauset Public Schools | Nauset Public Schools | Nauset Public Schools |
Sale counts are in brackets. Only types of home with at least 20 sales show a median. See each town page for villages, beaches, taxes and the full sales breakdown.
Harbors and warm Sound beaches
Harwich sits on Nantucket Sound between Dennis and Chatham, with warm-water beaches, three harbors and seven villages, Harwich Port the best known.
Living in Harwich: the full guide
Main Street, the fish pier, ocean and bay
Chatham sits at the elbow of Cape Cod, with the Atlantic on one side and Nantucket Sound on the other, a walkable Main Street, the fish pier and Chatham Light.
Living in Chatham: the full guide
Bay beaches and tidal flats
Brewster lies along Cape Cod Bay on Route 6A, with tidal flats that stretch for miles at low tide, freshwater ponds and Nickerson State Park.
Living in Brewster: the full guide
Nauset Beach and Pleasant Bay
Orleans is the Lower Cape's year-round commercial center, where Routes 6, 6A and 28 meet, with Nauset Beach on the Atlantic, Skaket Beach on Cape Cod Bay and Pleasant Bay to the south.
Living in Orleans: the full guide
National Seashore and Nauset Light
Eastham is the gateway to the Cape Cod National Seashore, with Nauset Light and Coast Guard Beach on the Atlantic and calm bay beaches such as First Encounter on Cape Cod Bay.
Living in Eastham: the full guideYou only get one first week on the market.
34.9% of Lower Cape homes sold in their first week29.4% had a price cut first
Free. Arthur visits, then writes your first-week price and the plan to get that week right. Cape Cod & Islands MLS, residential (single-family and condo) sales 31 October 2025 to 30 October 2026; medians; 820 sales across the five towns. Analysis by The Celebrate Team. Market-wide figures, not Arthur's own sales. Tax rates: each town, FY2026. Seasonal homes: share of housing units, as on each town page.
On this site the Lower Cape means five towns: Harwich, Chatham, Brewster, Orleans and Eastham. Definitions vary; Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown are usually called the Outer Cape.
Chatham: median $1,458,750 (178 sales). The five-town median is $865,500.
Brewster: median $750,000 (193 sales), then Harwich at $760,000.
Chatham, at $3.67 per $1,000 of assessed value (FY2026). Eastham is highest at $7.71.
Brewster: median 12 days on the market. Orleans is slowest at 27 days.
Parts of Harwich, Chatham and Orleans. Brewster and Eastham homes are on septic (Eastham: phase 1 planned).
Eastham: 57.1% of housing units. Harwich has the fewest, 38.8%.
Harwich and Chatham are served by Monomoy Regional Schools; Brewster, Orleans and Eastham by Nauset Public Schools.
Median condo prices, 12 months to 30 October 2026: Harwich $427,000 (38 sales); Chatham $695,000 (21 sales); Brewster $469,950 (70 sales); Orleans $360,000 (38 sales). Eastham had fewer than 20 condo sales, too few for a reliable median.
Cape Cod & Islands MLS, residential (single-family and condo) sales 31 October 2025 to 30 October 2026; medians; 820 sales across the five towns. Analysis by The Celebrate Team. Market-wide figures, not Arthur's own sales. Tax rates: each town, FY2026. Seasonal homes: share of housing units, as on each town page.
