What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nahant has the most people working from home (18.7%).

Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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	Nahant	Rowley
People
Population	3,325Lowest	6,251Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA	50±6.3Lowest 25% above MA
Kids under 18	11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9%	21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Rowley 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	$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA
	Rowley 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	$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA
	Nahant and Rowley 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	$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA
	Nahant and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,615Lowest 10% above MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Rowley 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%	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	81.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	28 minLowest 3% below MA
Work from home	18.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Nahant and Rowley 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	#214 of 282 in MA
School district	Nahant	Triton
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.