Nantucket County Residents Directory

Nantucket County is one town and one county rolled into one. The island sits about 30 miles south of Cape Cod and holds around 14,000 year-round residents. The Nantucket County residents directory draws from the annual town census, voter rolls, land records, and files kept by the town clerk and registry of deeds. A 2017 count put the number of nonconfidential adults in the register at 10,798. Because the town and county share the same government, all records come from one set of offices. That makes searching for residents here more straightforward than in most other Massachusetts counties.

Nantucket County Registry of Deeds

The Nantucket County Registry of Deeds records all land documents for the island. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property filings all go through this office. Each document names the parties involved and ties them to a specific Nantucket address. Property transfers are one of the strongest tools in the Nantucket County residents directory because they create a paper trail linking people to places on the island over time.

The registry is at 16 Broad Street in Nantucket. It is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Call (508) 228-7250 for questions or to check on a filing. Walk-in visits are welcome during business hours. Staff can help you search the index or use the on-site terminals to look up recorded documents.

Online access is free through the Massachusetts Land Records portal for Nantucket. You can search by name, address, or document type. No account is needed. Results show the names on each document, the recording date, and the book and page number. This portal covers documents going back many years and is one of the quickest ways to check who owns property on Nantucket Island.

Nantucket Annual Census and Street Lists

Massachusetts law requires every municipality to count its residents each year. Under M.G.L. c. 51, § 4, the Town of Nantucket conducts an official annual census as of January 1. Census forms go out to every household on the island. The data collected feeds into the Nantucket County residents directory and forms the basis for street lists, jury pools, and voter rolls. As of September 2017, the register held 10,798 nonconfidential adult entries. This annual count is not the federal census. It is a state-level process that captures who actually lives on Nantucket full time.

Street lists come directly from this census. A street list shows the name, age, and address of each resident age 17 and older. Under M.G.L. c. 51, § 6, these lists are public records. Anyone can buy a copy from the town clerk. The price is typically between $15 and $25. Street lists are one of the most direct ways to search the Nantucket residents directory because they organize people by address in a clear, simple format.

The seasonal swing on Nantucket makes census data especially useful. The year-round population sits near 14,000. In summer months, that number climbs to 50,000 or more with tourists and seasonal residents. The January census catches the permanent base. It draws a line between who lives here full time and who visits.

Searching Nantucket Resident Records

The Massachusetts Land Records site is one of the best online tools for the Nantucket County residents directory. It gives free access to recorded property documents across all Massachusetts counties, including Nantucket.

Through this portal, you can search for any person who has bought, sold, or refinanced property on Nantucket. Each result links to the actual recorded document. Deeds show both the buyer and seller names along with the property address. This makes it possible to trace who has lived at a given address over the years. The system is free and open to everyone. No login or account is required to search or view records.

Beyond property records, the Town of Nantucket website provides access to local government information. The site links to town departments, meeting minutes, and public notices that can contain resident names and addresses. Town meeting records, permit applications, and board decisions are all part of the public record and add detail to the Nantucket County residents directory.

Nantucket County Town Clerk

Since Nantucket is both a town and a county, one town clerk handles all resident records. The office sits in the Town and County Building at 16 Broad Street. You can reach them at (508) 228-7216. The clerk keeps the annual census data, street lists, voter rolls, vital records, and other public files. This single point of contact makes the Nantucket residents directory easier to navigate than counties with many separate towns.

Voter registration lists are free in Massachusetts. You can get them from the town clerk or the Secretary of State. These rolls include the voter's name, home address, party affiliation, and voting history. On an island this size, voter lists give a fairly complete picture of the adult population. The lists get updated as people register, move away, or change their information. They are a useful companion to street lists when searching the Nantucket County residents directory.

Prospective juror lists add one more layer. Under M.G.L. c. 234A, § 15, jury lists are public records. They come from the annual census and include the names and addresses of residents who may be called for jury duty. You can request a copy from the court or the Office of Jury Commissioner. These lists overlap with the census data but may catch names that do not appear on voter rolls.

Public Records Requests

The Massachusetts Public Records Law gives anyone the right to request government records. Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, you can submit a request to any state or local agency, including Nantucket town offices. The agency must respond within 10 business days. This law covers resident-related records such as street lists, voter data, property files, and other documents that feed into the Nantucket County residents directory.

You can file a public records request online through mass.gov. The process is simple. Fill out the form, describe what you need, and submit it to the right office. The first four hours of staff search time are free. After that, agencies can charge up to $25 per hour. Paper copies may carry a per-page fee as well. If your request gets denied or you think the response is incomplete, you can appeal to the Supervisor of Records.

• Street lists from the annual census
• Voter registration rolls
• Property transfer records
• Prospective juror lists
• Town meeting minutes and public notices
• Permit and license records

Nantucket Residency and Seasonal Factors

Nantucket's population swings create a real challenge for anyone searching resident records. The 14,000 year-round residents are well documented through the annual census and street lists. But thousands more own homes on the island and only stay part of the year. These seasonal residents show up in property records and tax rolls but may not appear on the street list or voter rolls if they claim a primary residence elsewhere.

If you are looking for someone who spends summers on Nantucket, property records through the registry of deeds are your best bet. Deed filings and tax assessor data will show their name and the property address even if they are not counted in the annual census. Cross-referencing property records with the Nantucket residents directory built from census data helps you figure out who lives here full time versus who owns a place but is based off-island. The town assessor's office can also confirm current ownership for any parcel on Nantucket.

About Nantucket County

Nantucket County is unique in Massachusetts. It is the only county that consists of a single municipality. The Town of Nantucket and Nantucket County share the same boundaries and the same government. There are no other towns or cities within the county. All resident records, from census data to property filings, flow through one set of offices on Broad Street. This makes Nantucket the simplest county in the state to search for residents.

Nearby Counties

These counties are the closest to Nantucket. If the person you are searching for lives on Cape Cod or Martha's Vineyard, their records would be in one of these neighboring counties.