Orleans is a somewhat small coastal town (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of Massachusetts. With a population of 6,422 people and two associated neighborhoods, Orleans is the 230th largest community in Massachusetts.

Housing costs in Orleans are among some of the highest in the nation, although real estate prices here don't compare to real estate prices in the most expensive communities in Massachusetts.

Of important note, Orleans is also a town of artists. Orleans has more artists, designers and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America. This concentration of artists helps shape Orleans’s character.

One interesting thing about the economy is that relatively large numbers of people worked from their home: 19.54% of the workforce. While this number may seem small overall, as a fraction of the total workforce this is high compared to the rest of the county. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.

Another notable thing is that Orleans is a major vacation destination. Much of the town’s population is seasonal: many people own second homes and only live there part-time, during the vacation season. The effect on the local economy is that many of the businesses are dependent on tourist dollars, and may operate only during the high season. As the vacation season ends, Orleans’s population drops significantly, such that year-round residents will notice that the city is a much quieter place to live.

Orleans is a good choice for families with children because of several factors. Many other families with children live here, making it a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic success. Many people own their own single-family homes, providing areas for children to play and stability in the community. Finally, Orleans’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country.

The town is relatively quiet, having a combination of lower population density and few of those groups of people who have a tendency to be noisy. For example, Orleans has relatively fewer families with younger children, and/or college students. Combined, this makes Orleans a pretty quiet place to live overall. If you like quiet, you will probably enjoy it here.

One of the nice things about Orleans is that it is nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Because of this, visitors and locals will often go to these areas to take in the scenery or to enjoy waterfront activities.

If knowledge is power, Orleans is a pretty powerful place. 62.61% of the adults in Orleans have earned a 4-year college degree, masters degree, MD, law degree, or even PhD. Compare that to the national average of 21.84% for all cities and towns.

The per capita income in Orleans in 2022 was $69,222, which is upper middle income relative to Massachusetts, and wealthy relative to the rest of the US. This equates to an annual income of $276,888 for a family of four. However, Orleans contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.

The people who call Orleans home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Orleans residents report their race to be White, followed by Asian. Important ancestries of people in Orleans include Irish, English, German, Italian, and Scottish.

The most common language spoken in Orleans is English. Other important languages spoken here include Spanish and French.