Compare towns
Orleans vs Chatham vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Chatham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Nahant has the most affordable homes ($749k median).
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 | Orleans | Chatham | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
6,681Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA |
63.4±2.8 59% above MA |
60.7±2.9Lowest 52% above MA |
| Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest 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+ | 49.3%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
45.5%±5.4 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Nahant and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,335±$13k about the MA average |
$85,167±$9kLowest 18% below MA |
$112,762±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
| Nahant and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $957,000±$85kHighest 70% above MA |
$942,800±$78k 68% above MA |
$748,800±$99kLowest 33% above MA |
| Orleans and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,502±$703 15% below MA |
$1,485±$209Lowest 16% 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 | $5,486 8% below MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±22.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Chatham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.4%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Orleans and Chatham 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 | #130 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nauset · Orleans | Monomoy Regional School District | Nahant |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.