Compare towns

Chilmark vs Barre vs Aquinnah

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 highest household income ($169k).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Aquinnah has the most people working from home (52.1%).

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.

MeasureChilmarkBarreAquinnah
People
Population
1,578
5,572Highest
666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+40%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
53.6±8.1Highest
34% above MA
43.8±8.5Lowest
9% above MA
47.8±7.8
20% above MA
Chilmark and Aquinnah 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%
15.8%±5.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
26.4%±8.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
Aquinnah and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
36.2%±12.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
19%±5.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
24.9%±6.4
MA: 17.9%
Chilmark and Aquinnah 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%
31.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
65.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±3.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±4
MA: 7.9%
Barre and Aquinnah 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
$107,727±$13kLowest
4% above MA
$146,354±$69k
41% above MA
Chilmark and Aquinnah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,895,300±$281kHighest
237% above MA
$394,300±$55kLowest
30% below MA
$1,878,700±$215k
234% above MA
Chilmark and Aquinnah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,750±$2kHighest
56% above MA
$1,030±$713Lowest
42% below MA
—
Chilmark and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,485Lowest
25% below MA
$5,163
14% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±59.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±27.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
32.7%±45.3
MA: 51.8%
Barre and Aquinnah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.2%Highest
MA: 10%
5.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
75.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
79.6%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1971Lowest
7 yrs newer than MA
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
8% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
20 minLowest
32% below MA
Work from home
25.7%±11
MA: 18.6%
11.2%±4.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
52.1%±12Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #134 of 282 in MA —
School district Up-Island Regional Quabbin —
High school in town None in town Quabbin Regional High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.