Nantucket, MA is an island, town, and county all in one. It is 14 miles long, 3 ½ miles wide, and is located 30 miles off the south coast of Cape Cod. Its history of modern settlement begins in 1602, when Bartholomew Gosnold from England first sighted the island, and his discovery brought about the area’s complete settlement by 1659. Until the 1880’s Nantucket served primarily as a major hub for whalers, but when the industry began to decline at the turn of the century, the Island became a first-rate tourist spot. This hasn’t changed; today Nantucket has a year-round population of over 10,000, and accommodates 40,000 to 50,000 tourists during the months of July and August. The 4th of July is an enthusiastically celebrated holiday on Nantucket Island; the town offers events for the family, a parade on Main Street, and a grand finale fireworks show on Jetties Beach after sundown. During the winter months, the Island sees considerably less tourists, but still attracts those who can’t get enough of its fresh ocean air, charming restaurants and bed & breakfasts.

Living in Nantucket is a pleasure, and some say, a privilege. Because the Island is popular as a summer colony, the real estate in Nantucket has been spread thin in the last decade or so. Recent new construction and renovation projects have been helping to alleviate this issue, though, and currently the real estate market in Nantucket is healthy, offering homes all over the island.

Nantucket is divided into 8 major areas: Madaket, South Shore, Tom Nevers, Sconset, Wauwinet, The Harbor, Mid-Island, and Town. The entire island was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, and so each neighborhood reflects Nantucket’s heritage through its homes and buildings. Nantucket’s Town is the cultural center of the island, and its residential areas are within walking distance of the harbor, shops, restaurants and entertainment. Town is the most heavily populated area of the Island, and it contains the largest collection of pre-Civil War homes in the U.S. The Mid-Island area features the most variety of homes available on Nantucket, including a majority of the new construction taking place on the Island. More affordable housing is available in this area as well, and although very few of the homes have ocean views (distant at best), it is just a matter of a short drive to the South Shore beaches.

Real estate in Nantucket’s The Harbor is comprised of some of the largest and most luxurious waterfront homes, offering a sheltered harbor for boating enthusiasts. The neighborhood of Wauwinet is the most secluded and remote in the entire Island, even offering some private wooded lots for those who don’t mind the half hour drive to Sconset for supplies. The charming neighborhood of Sconset is known for its small cottages, but larger homes are available in some parts as well. Sconset boasts some of the amenities that Town offers, but without the crowds. The Tom Nevers area offers larger homes on private wooded lots, and the major attraction of this neighborhood is that it is close to all of Nantucket’s best golf courses. The homes in Nantucket’s South Shore area are in high demand because its beaches are known to be some of the best in the U.S. And finally, Nantucket’s Madaket offers the best sunset views, and its residential areas vary from wide open lots to heavily populated villages. Whether you want a condo in the bustling center of Town, or a large waterfront property in the remote Wauwinet, the real estate market in Nantucket is sure to have your next dream home.

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