Compare towns
Chilmark vs Dedham vs Needham vs Provincetown
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%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Provincetown has the shortest commute (13 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 | Dedham | Needham | Provincetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
3,703 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+24.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56.3±2.6Highest 41% above MA |
| Provincetown 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Provincetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
9.6%±6.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Provincetown and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$136,904±$44k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$902,200±$180k 61% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,261±$415Lowest 28% below MA |
| Chilmark and Needham 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 |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,927 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Provincetown and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
76.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
13 minLowest 55% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Provincetown 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #254 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Dedham | Needham | Provincetown |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.