What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Nahant has the most expensive 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.

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

Measure	Shelburne	Nahant
People
Population	1,567Lowest	3,325Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	57±7.3Lowest 43% above MA	60.7±2.9Highest 52% 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	12.5%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	11%±3.1Lowest 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+	38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	36.2%±6.2Lowest 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+	51.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	61.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±1.8Highest 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	$83,000±$4kLowest 20% below MA	$112,762±$6kHighest 8% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$405,400±$32kLowest 28% below MA	$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA	$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,595Lowest 23% below MA	$6,615Highest 10% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.5%±17.4Highest 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	10.4%Highest MA: 10%	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	78.9%Highest 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	29 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	17.7%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.7%±5.7Highest 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	Mohawk Trail	Nahant
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.