Compare towns
Berlin vs Chilmark vs Dover vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Clinton has the most affordable homes ($387k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Berlin | Chilmark | Dover | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
1,578Lowest |
2,308 |
15,563Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Chilmark and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933 37% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
— | $1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA |
| Chilmark and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Up-Island Regional | — | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.