Compare towns
Chatham vs Acton vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most homeowners (85.4%).
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Orleans 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 | Chatham | Acton | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,681 |
24,155Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.4±2.8 59% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA |
| Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 45.5%±5.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
49.3%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,167±$9kLowest 18% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$102,335±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $942,800±$78k 68% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$957,000±$85kHighest 70% above MA |
| Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,502±$703 15% below MA |
| Acton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,486 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.7%±21.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Chatham and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Orleans 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 | #130 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #158 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District | Acton-Boxborough | Nauset · Orleans |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.