Compare towns
Chilmark vs Ayer vs Gosnold
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Gosnold has the shortest commute (10 min average).
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 | Chilmark | Ayer | Gosnold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578 |
8,645Highest |
31Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
60.5±20.5Highest 51% above MA |
| Gosnold and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.7%±100Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Gosnold and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
0%±63.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$700,000±$154k 25% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
— |
| Chilmark and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485 25% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$2,667Lowest 55% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
0%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
10 minLowest 67% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±72.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Gosnold 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Ayer Shirley School District | Gosnold |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.