Town · Massachusetts
Orleans, Massachusetts
Orleans, town, in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Orleans had 6,524 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,307 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,415 (±16). GEOID 2500151440.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,524
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,307 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,415 ±16
Median household income
$102,335
±$13,253 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$957,000
±$85,172 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,502
±$703 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Orleans and what county is it in?
Orleans is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It covers 14.2 square miles of land, 445 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Orleans: Orleans (CDP, 1,767 in 2020).
Orleans is in the Barnstable Town, MA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Orleans, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,524 people lived in Orleans on July 1, 2025, up 3.3% since 2020, faster than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 6,307 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,415 (±16).
| Measure | Orleans | Barnstable County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,415±16 | 231,668 | +607 |
| Households | 3,144±190 | 105,777 | +426 |
| Average household size | 2.01±0.12 | 2.16 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,802±255 | 166,215 | no clear change |
Orleans's population since 2000
From 6,341 in 2000 to 6,524 in 2025: up 2.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Orleans as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Orleans?
The median resident of Orleans is 64.7 years old; 10.6% are under 18 and 49.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 98.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 0.9%. 3.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Orleans | Barnstable County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.7±2.5 | 55.4 | +4.6 |
| Under 18 years | 10.6%±2.4 pts | 14.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 49.3%±5.7 pts | 33.1% | – |
| Male | 45.9%±3.2 pts | 48.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.2%±0.4 pts | 3.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 98.2%±1.1 pts | 85.2% | +4.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 1.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.7 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.9%±0.7 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.7 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.5%±2.0 pts | 9.9% | −4.3 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.0%±1.4 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.4%±2.2 pts | 7.1% | – |
| With a disability | 14.5%±3.3 pts | 14.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 0.4%±0.6 pts | 2.7% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.8%±0.8 pts | 96.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 58.8%±7.5 pts | 48.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 28.7%±6.0 pts | 22.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.7%±3.7 pts | 90.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.7%±1.4 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Orleans earn?
Half of Orleans's 3,144 households earn less than $102,335 a year (±$13,253), against $95,241 in Barnstable County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $90,798 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Orleans | Barnstable County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $102,335±$13,253 | $95,241 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $156,344±$21,708 | $134,349 | – |
| Per capita income | $76,631±$10,819 | $62,086 | +$20,364 |
| People below the poverty line | 8.6%±3.9 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 4.6%±6.8 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.2%±2.5 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.5%±1.6 pts | 96.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.6%±2.2 pts | 94.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Orleans?
Owners occupy 80.9% of Orleans's occupied homes and renters 19.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $957,000 by its owner (±$85,172). The median renter pays $1,502 a month including utilities, and 42.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Orleans | Barnstable County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $957,000±$85,172 | $629,000 | +$164,433 |
| Median gross rent | $1,502±$703 | $1,678 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.8%±19.9 pts | 48.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,038±$292 | $2,432 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.9%±6.3 pts | 81.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 19.1%±6.3 pts | 18.9% | – |
| Housing units | 5,802±255 | 166,215 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.6 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.8%±6.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 81.6%±3.4 pts | 81.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.7%±1.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.8%±2.3 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.7%±2.9 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.1%±2.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Orleans building?
Builders took permits for 10 new housing units in Orleans in 2025 (10 in single-family houses), 1.5 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Orleans work and get to work?
64.1% of Orleans's workers drive alone and 27.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.1 minutes.
| Measure | Orleans | Barnstable County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 45.5%±6.3 pts | 58.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2%±2.8 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 64.1%±7.0 pts | 72.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.6%±3.5 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.9%±2.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.4%±0.5 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 27.4%±6.5 pts | 16.0% | +12.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.1 min±4.4 | 24.8 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Orleans?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Orleans (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $91,625 (Tract 104) to $117,574 (Tract 105).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Orleans) · Census block assignment files
How does Orleans compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Orleans is the 1,833rd-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 145th-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Orleans ranks 273rd of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 145th | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 63rd | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 330th | 461 |
| Median household income | 273rd | 453 |
| Per capita income | 81st | 460 |
| Median home value | 34th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 225th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 108th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 124th | 459 |
| Median age | 5th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 220th | 460 |
| Work from home | 74th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 405th | 459 |
Orleans's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Orleans with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Orleans?
17 of the 57 figures for Orleans on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Orleans are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.