The Town FilesNahant, Massachusetts
Community in Essex County · population 3,334 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $748,800
- Household income
- $112,762
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 60.7
Nahant is a community of 3,334 people in Essex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $748,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Massachusetts towns, more seaside character than 99% of Massachusetts towns, hipper than 98% of Massachusetts towns.
How Nahant ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Nahant is worth $748,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 6.6 times the median household income of $112,762, which is more affordable than 13% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,777 a month. 78.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nahant | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $748,800 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,777 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $112,762 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 78.9% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.1% | — |
Who lives in Nahant
| People | Nahant | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.7 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 11.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.6% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 18.7% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Nahant
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 23.1°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.2 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nahant since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 28, 2014 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 11, 2006.
Severe weather in Essex County since 1996
Essex County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4372: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Essex County
Essex County had 323,694 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,548 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Nahant itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Nahant
1 public school with 149 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson | PK-5 | 149 | 14.9 |
Towns near Nahant
- Revere, MA2.9 mi · 62,186 people · home $597,400
- Winthrop Town, MA3.5 mi · 19,316 people · home $649,600
- Swampscott, MA4.0 mi · 15,111 people · home $771,100
- Lynn, MA4.2 mi · 101,253 people · home $510,100
- Chelsea, MA5.2 mi · 40,787 people · home $493,500
- Saugus, MA5.4 mi · 28,619 people · home $603,400
- Salem, MA5.9 mi · 44,480 people · home $542,800
- Hull, MA6.0 mi · 10,072 people · home $646,000
Nahant questions
Is Nahant, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nahant scores better for retirees than 93% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 31%. 36.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.7).
How much does a house cost in Nahant?
The median owner-occupied home in Nahant is valued at $748,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $112,762, so homes cost about 6.6 times income. Median rent is $1,777 a month.
What is the weather like in Nahant?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 23.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 49.2 inches of snow.
Does Nahant get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nahant since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 28, 2014. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)