In Nantucket, where over half of homes are for seasonal use, workers struggle to find affordable housing

In Nantucket, where over half of homes are for seasonal use, workers struggle to find affordable housing

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In Nantucket, where over half of homes are for seasonal use, workers struggle to find affordable housing
Diana Ionescu
Thu, 07/23/2026 – 05:00

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Primary Image Caption
Homes in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

The opposition to three workforce housing projects approved by the Nantucket Planning Board this year reveals the tensions in the island's housing market, writes Allaire Conte in Realtor.
The wealthy town, where 55% of homes are for seasonal or part-time use, swells from a population of 15,000 to nearly 80,000 during peak season. The median home price is $4.9 million, and homeownership is out of reach for 90% of year-round residents, according to nonprofit Housing Nantucket. The hospital, schools and other employers widely report losing employees or having trouble hiring due to a lack of affordable housing in the area. This is prompting town leaders to treat workforce housing as an urgent issue.
As Conte explains, the fact that 94% of Nantucket's land prohibits multifamily housing means that "With few places where the island can add housing by right, employee housing often has to move through special permits, employer-backed projects, and one-off approvals."

Geography
Massachusetts

Category
Housing
Land Use

Tags
Nantucket
Density
Multifamily Housing
Workforce Housing
Affordable Housing
housing affordability
Housing Costs

Publication
Realtor

Publication Date
Wed, 07/22/2026 – 12:00

Publication Links
Not in My (Second) Backyard: Nantucket’s Worker Housing Fight Reveals the Cost …

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Source: Planetizen News – https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07/138048-nantucket-where-over-half-homes-are-seasonal-use-workers-struggle-find