Compare towns
Nahant vs Reading vs Provincetown
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 oldest population (median age 60.7).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Provincetown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+24.5%).
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 | Reading | Provincetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
25,612Highest |
3,703 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+24.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
56.3±2.6 41% above MA |
| Nahant and Provincetown 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Nahant and Provincetown 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.6%±6.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Provincetown and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$136,904±$44k 32% above MA |
| Reading and Provincetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $748,800±$99kLowest 33% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$902,200±$180kHighest 61% above MA |
| Provincetown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,777±$334 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,261±$415Lowest 28% below MA |
| Reading and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,615 10% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,927Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Provincetown and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
13 minLowest 55% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Provincetown and Reading 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 | #129 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #254 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nahant | Reading | Provincetown |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.