What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k median).

Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Nahant	Shelburne
People
Population	3,325Highest	1,567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA	57±7.3Lowest 43% above MA
	Nahant and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	12.5%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Shelburne and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	36.2%±6.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Shelburne 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	51.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Nahant and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,762±$6kHighest 8% above MA	$83,000±$4kLowest 20% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA	$405,400±$32kLowest 28% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average	$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,615Highest 10% above MA	$4,595Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8%	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Nahant and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	10.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 26 yrs older than MA	1938 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	18.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6%	17.7%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Nahant and Shelburne 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	—
School district	Nahant	Mohawk Trail
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.