Nantucket County covers the island towns of Nantucket and Madaket, where many homes are 18th- and 19th-century whaling-era colonials, capes, and shingled cottages. Newer houses are often built to match that historic look. A stair lift has to work with these staircases and, if it goes outside, with the rules that protect them.
The island sits roughly 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, with no bridge or causeway to the mainland. That affects how an installation gets scheduled and what it costs to bring crews and equipment over. Below we walk through what local homes mean for stair lift choices, how the island setting changes the job, and which programs can help pay.
Most homes here are single-family or detached houses, with some townhouses and low-rise buildings. In a colonial or cape, the first thing we look at is the staircase itself. A straight run with no turns can usually take a straight rail, which is the simpler and less costly option.
If the stairs turn at a landing or wind as they climb, a curved rail is built to follow that exact path. Cottages and older houses with unusual layouts are where curved rails come up most. A measurement visit tells you which type fits before you commit to anything.
Nearly all exterior alterations on the island need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Nantucket Historic District Commission before work can start. The HDC reviews the entire historic district, which is the largest conventional National Historic Landmark district in the contiguous United States.
An indoor stair lift that stays inside the house generally does not touch the exterior features the HDC reviews. An outdoor lift or platform lift at an entryway is different. Plan for added review time and possible design limits if the project changes the outside of your home, such as the front steps or door.
Crews and equipment reach Nantucket by ferry through the Steamship Authority or Hy-Line Cruises, or by small aircraft through Nantucket Memorial Airport. Compared with mainland Massachusetts jobs, this can affect scheduling and freight costs.
It helps to confirm measurements carefully the first time, so the right rail and parts arrive on one trip. Asking early about timing is wise if you need the lift by a certain date, such as a hospital discharge.
About 15.8% of county residents are 65 or older, and 76.7% own their homes. Homeownership matters because the main Massachusetts loan for home modifications is aimed at homeowners.
Housing costs here are steep. A real-estate industry source puts the median home price around $2.5 million, with housing costs about 324% above the national average. Many year-round residents, including municipal and service-sector workers, earn far less than those prices suggest, so no-cost and low-cost programs often matter more than paying a contractor outright.
The Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP) is the clearest fit, since it has funded stairlifts and offers 0% interest with no monthly payments. For people who qualify for MassHealth and need a nursing-facility level of care, the MassHealth Frail Elder Waiver (FEW) lists home modifications, and enrollment runs through Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands.
Be aware that the VA HISA grant does not pay for stair glides or porch lifts. The local Veteran Services office is at 22 New S. Road, Nantucket, phone (508) 325-5332, and can help sort out which VA benefits apply. Each program is summarized below.
A MassHealth waiver for residents age 60+ who need nursing-facility level of care, with a 2026 monthly income limit of $2,982 and asset limit of $2,000 for a single applicant; it lists home modifications, but stairlifts are not named in public summaries. Call (800) 243-4636, and note that Nantucket enrollment goes through Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands.
A 0% interest, deferred loan with no monthly payments, up to $50,000 for homeowners where a household member has a disability or is 60+, and stairlifts are a confirmed eligible modification. Call (866) 500-5599.
The regional aging agency for Nantucket, handling referrals, care management, and MassHealth waiver enrollment; its materials do not list its own stairlift or home-modification grant. Call (800) 244-4630 to ask about current referral options.
A free courtesy loan of portable ramps for short-term access to a home or rental entrance; it does not fund or provide stairlifts. Call (508) 228-8085 or email [email protected].
A nonprofit serving Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard that helps people of any age with housing and assistive-technology needs and can refer to funding such as HMLP; its pages do not list a direct stairlift fund. Call (508) 775-8300.
Federal repair loans up to $20,000 at 1% interest and grants up to $7,500 for homeowners 62+ in USDA-designated rural areas with income at or below 50% of area median; stairlifts are not named, and eligible Nantucket households are likely very limited. Call (508) 295-5151 to check an address.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically necessary home changes like entrance ramps and roll-in showers; it explicitly does not cover stair glides or porch lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
VA grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026; stairlifts are not specifically listed in the program description. Call (800) 827-1000.
Older adults
68 Route 134, South Dennis, 02660
Veterans
22 New S. Road, Nantucket, 02554
If the work changes the outside of your home, such as an entryway, expect to need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Nantucket Historic District Commission before work begins. An indoor lift that stays inside generally does not touch the exterior features the HDC reviews.
It can. Crews and equipment come by ferry or small aircraft, which can affect scheduling and freight costs compared with mainland Massachusetts jobs, so it pays to plan ahead.
Yes. The Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP) offers 0% interest loans up to $50,000 for homeowners, with no monthly payments and repayment due when the home is sold or transferred. Stairlifts are a confirmed eligible use. Call (866) 500-5599.
The VA HISA grant does not cover stair glides or porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants do not specifically list stairlifts, so ask the VA at (800) 827-1000 or Veteran Services in Nantucket at (508) 325-5332.
Elder Services of Cape Cod & Islands is the regional aging agency and the access point for MassHealth waiver enrollment. Reach the office in South Dennis at (508) 394-4630 or call (800) 244-4630.
The Nantucket Commission on Disability lends portable ramps for free on a short-term basis, though it does not provide stairlifts. Call (508) 228-8085.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
