Cape is a quieter and happier town than it was when today’s high school seniors were born, according to data recently compiled by Town Manager Michael McGovern at the request of the Town Council.

Births have dropped about 25 percent from 81 in 1990 to 62 or 61 each of the past few years. Marriages have decreased from 166 to 43. And construction is slowing; the lowest number of new home starts over the past 18 years had been 23 until the last two years, which saw 10 and 14 home starts, respectively.

Cape residents have also become more law-abiding, unless it’s the police that have become more forgiving. The number of arrests hasn’t dropped much – from 103 to 96 – but summonses have been halved, from 929 to 422, and parking tickets have decreased from 446 a year to 111.

Even zoning board appeals have decreased. The board 18 years ago heard 43 appeals in one year. During the most recent year, it heard three.