What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chatham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

Orleans has the highest household income ($102k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chatham	Orleans
People
Population	6,681Highest	6,415Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	63.4±2.8Lowest 59% 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%	10.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	45.5%±5.4Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	58.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	2.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Chatham and Orleans 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	$102,335±$13kHighest about the MA average
	Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$942,800±$78kLowest 68% 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	$1,502±$703Highest 15% below MA
	Orleans and Chatham 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	$5,486Highest 8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.7%±21.1Highest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±22.7Lowest 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%	8.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	80.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 18% below MA	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	25.5%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.4%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Orleans and Chatham 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	#158 of 282 in MA
School district	Monomoy Regional School District	Nauset · Orleans
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.