$1,078,606Average Value$700Average Price per Sq Ft35Homes For Sale
Quiet Cape Cod town with busy, tourist-filled summers
Set 33 miles northeast of Barnstable, Wellfleet is a small Cape Cod town with charming local businesses, a diverse range of single-family homes and miles of pristine sandy beaches along the Cape Cod National Seashore. “Well, it’s a very lovely, close-knit community,” says Suzanne Nicholson, a public services librarian at the Wellfleet Public Library. “But in the summer months, it’s a travel destination. So, it goes from 3,000 people to 20,000.” During the summer, the town transforms from calm and quiet to busy and full of life, with visitors strolling down Main Street, dining at seafood shacks and browsing art galleries; beaches shift from windswept stretches of sand to crowded shorelines dotted with colorful umbrellas and sunbathers. “We depend on the tourist economy to keep us going in the winter,” Nicholson says. “But the winter is a little bit of heaven. It’s colder, and it’s pretty beautiful.” The overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4. “Another thing is Wellfleet oysters are world-known — people come just for that,” Nicholson says. “It’s just a nice little coastal community.”
A variety of locally owned boutiques, shops, and restaurants can be found along Main St. in Wellfleet.
The immaculate white sand beaches of Wellfleet extend as far as the eye can see.
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Hike, swim and relax along the national seashore
“We’re at the end of the national seashore, so we’re basically just surrounded by water,” Nicholson says. Marconi Beach is the go-to spot for swimming, surfing and relaxing under the sun. “It’s just beautiful sand dunes,” Nicholson says. “The beaches do get busy, but it’s beautiful — there are no houses on them, or if there are, they’re very few.” At Marconi Station, an observation platform, folks can spot seals bobbing in the ocean just offshore. Hikers can trek the 8-mile Great Island Trail through pine forests, sand dunes and salt marshes while admiring the area’s rugged landscapes and coastal beauty. The semi-private Chequessett Yacht & Country Club is another highlight, where members and guests can play tennis, pickleball and 18-hole golf. Along Main Street, the Wellfleet Memorial Garden is a quiet spot for a picnic next to several boutiques and restaurants.
Take in the stunning views along the Cape Cod National Seashore in Wellfleet.
Wellfleet golfers hit the links at Chequessett Club.
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Cottages, Cape Cods and custom estates with acreage
Typically set along tree-lined roads, Wellfleet’s single-family homes are a diverse mix of Cape Cod, Colonial saltbox and cottage styles that date to the mid-18th century through today. Most have two- to four-bedrooms with 600- to 2,000-square-foot layouts, often with uncovered off-street parking and backyards peppered with pine and oak trees. The largest homes are custom estates tucked away on 1- to 7-acre wooded lots, occasionally with waterfront views. These three- to five-bedroom homes have layouts ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 square feet and include features like decks, wraparound porches and outdoor showers. Prices for single-family homes range from about $250,000 to $1 million, while larger estates with acreage range from $1 million to $5 million — both ranges depending on a home’s size and features.
Quaint cottages are scattered throughout the landscape surrounding Wellfleet.
Unsurprisingly, Cape Cod homes are among Wellfleet's most popular home styles.
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Town events bring the community together
Wellfleet hosts events and offers a handful of classes and activities throughout the year. At the Wellfleet Recreation Department, adults can sign up for music lessons or the pickleball league. In October, Wellfleet OysterFest brings the community together to celebrate the town’s shellfishing heritage and its world-renowned oysters. “There’s shucking contests, a bunch of food tents, a beer tent and a lot of crafts set up for people to buy; they also have bands play,” Nicholson says. For the Fourth of July Parade, Wellfleet’s streets are packed with tourists and locals who cheer on a procession of classic cars and patriotic floats. Afterward, there’s food, music and a fireworks show at Rock Harbor in Orleans, 12 miles away.
The Wellfleet Farmers Market is a vital part of the community and operates every Wednesday from late May to mid-January.
Shuckers crank out oysters as fast as they can at the Wellfleet Oyster Fest.
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Fresh seafood and boutique shopping
“There aren’t really chains,” Nicholson says. “I mean, there’s a Dunkin’ Donuts, but for the most part it’s local businesses and boutiques.” Most of the town’s shopping and dining is set around Main Street, and many restaurants are only open in the summer. “It’s a small town — it’s not like we have many streets,” Nicholson says. For a morning coffee or pastry, The Flying Fish offers a grab-n-go selection, but it’s also the spot for a boozy brunch with pancakes and mimosas. Nearby, Winslow’s Tavern is a seafood restaurant with specialties like broiled Wellfleet oysters and swordfish schnitzel. After dinner, there’s Gelato Joy Cafe for dessert, or folks can shop for keepsakes and secondhand treasures in stores like Newcomb Hollow Shop and AIM Thrift Shop. For groceries, Wellfleet Marketplace is stocked with fresh seafood, deli cuts and pantry staples. From May through October, there’s also the Wellfleet Farmers Market which has locally sourced produce, baked goods and artisan crafts. Down by the Wellfleet Town Pier, there are several more seafood eateries, including Pearl Restaurant and Bar with craft cocktails and nearby views of the Wellfleet Harbor.
Residents of Wellfleet gather at The Wicked Oyster to enjoy dinner with friends.
Brighten your wardrobe with a few items from Ragg Time Ltd in Wellfleet.
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Nauset Public Schools receive high marks from Niche
Wellfleet is part of Nauset Public Schools, rated A overall and ranked the top district in Barnstable County by Niche. Local kids may start at Wellfleet Elementary, before moving on to Nauset Regional Middle — both rated B–plus. At the A-rated Nauset Regional High, students can choose from over two dozen extracurriculars including activities like Model United Nations, fashion design and podcasting.
Children begin their academic journey at Wellfleet Elementary School.
After elementary school Wellfleet students move onto Nauset Regional Middle School.
Students of Wellfleet conclude their education at Nauset Regional High School.
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Getting around from Wellfleet
Route 6 runs through Wellfleet, leading 33 miles southwest to Barnstable and 100 miles northwest to Boston. Thoroughfares like Main Street are sidewalk-lined, but generally without bike lanes; Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority buses also stop in the area. “Wellfleet isn’t really that big, but we have public transportation if you want to go to Provincetown or Orleans,” Nicholson says. Cape Cod Gateway Airport and Cape Cod Hospital are 33 miles away in Hyannis; Boston Logan International Airport is 102 miles away.
Crime
Wellfleet is at risk of flooding and hurricanes. FEMA designates some areas of Wellfleet as Flood Zone AE, which means there is an annual 1% chance of flooding and flood insurance is required.
Written By
Travis Rocha
Photography Contributed By
Shawn Miller
Video By
Matthew Bloch
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Cynthia Walsh MacKenzie,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Wellfleet, MA sell after 57 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Wellfleet, MA over the last 12 months is $925,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Rob YoungWilliam Raveis Real Estate & Home Services
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