What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

Nahant has the highest household income ($113k).

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	Orleans	Nahant
People
Population	1,480Lowest	3,325Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	64±8.9Highest 60% above MA	60.7±2.9Lowest 52% above MA
	Orleans and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	7.8%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	11%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Nahant and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	45.1%±14.8Highest MA: 17.9%	36.2%±6.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Orleans and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51%Lowest MA: 47.3%	61.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Nahant and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,359±$16kLowest 25% below MA	$112,762±$6kHighest 8% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$582,000±$111kLowest 4% above MA	$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA
	Nahant and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,040±$876Lowest 41% below MA	$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average
	Nahant and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,427Lowest 43% below MA	$6,615Highest 10% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.1%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.5%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	14.1%Highest MA: 10%	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67%Lowest MA: 62.5%	78.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 35% below MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	25.9%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6%	18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Orleans and Nahant 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	#158 of 282 in MA	#129 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Nahant
High school 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.