The Town FilesOrleans, Massachusetts
Town in Barnstable County · population 6,307 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $957,000
- Household income
- $102,335
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 64.7
Orleans is a town of 6,307 people in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $957,000, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Massachusetts towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of Massachusetts towns, hipper than 91% of Massachusetts towns.
How Orleans 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 Orleans is worth $957,000, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 9.4 times the median household income of $102,335, which is more affordable than 3% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,502 a month. 80.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Orleans | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $957,000 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,502 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $102,335 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 80.9% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 42.9% | — |
Who lives in Orleans
| People | Orleans | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.7 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 49.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 10.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.8% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 27.4% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in Orleans
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Orleans since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 23, 2019 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 23, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 8, 2024.
Severe weather in Barnstable County since 1996
Barnstable County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4372: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Barnstable County
Barnstable County had 96,280 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,707 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Orleans itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Orleans
2 public schools with 627 students, about 8.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nauset Regional Middle | 6-8 | 485 | 9.5 |
| Orleans Elementary | K-5 | 142 | 6.8 |
Towns near Orleans
- East Harwich, MA5.2 mi · 5,250 people · home $638,900
- Brewster, MA5.3 mi · 10,318 people · home $707,700
- Eastham, MA5.4 mi · 5,752 people · home $732,200
- Harwich, MA7.2 mi · 13,440 people · home $658,600
- Northwest Harwich, MA8.7 mi · 4,296 people · home $665,100
- Chatham, MA10.0 mi · 6,594 people · home $942,800
- East Dennis, MA10.1 mi · 2,585 people · home $694,000
- South Dennis, MA10.4 mi · 3,899 people · home $495,700
Orleans questions
Is Orleans, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Orleans scores better for retirees than 96% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 78%. 49.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.7).
How much does a house cost in Orleans?
The median owner-occupied home in Orleans is valued at $957,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,335, so homes cost about 9.4 times income. Median rent is $1,502 a month.
What is the weather like in Orleans?
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 24.5 inches of snow.
Does Orleans get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Orleans since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 23, 2019. 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)