What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Wellfleet	Nahant
People
Population	4,404Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.4±4.1Lowest 46% above MA	60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA
	Nahant and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%	11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wellfleet and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.3%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Nahant and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Nahant and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,938±$27kHighest 13% above MA	$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA
	Wellfleet and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA	$748,800±$99kLowest 33% above MA
	Wellfleet and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA	$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average
	Nahant and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,862Lowest 19% below MA	$6,615Highest 10% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.5%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Nahant and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Highest MA: 10%	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	32 minLowest 10% above MA
Work from home	20.7%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%	18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wellfleet 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	—	#129 of 282 in MA
School district	Wellfleet	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.