Compare towns
Nahant vs Orange vs Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k median).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Stockbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Nahant | Orange | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
7,573Highest |
2,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.7±2.9 52% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stockbridge and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Nahant and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$146,250±$67kHighest 41% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$600,000±$99k 7% above MA |
| Nahant and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$858±$375 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,615Highest 10% above MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,652 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stockbridge and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #129 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nahant | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.