Compare towns
Chilmark vs Douglas vs Needham vs West Tisbury
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).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
West Tisbury has the shortest commute (17 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 | Douglas | Needham | West Tisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
9,207 |
32,459Highest |
3,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+29.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
54.8±5.4Highest 37% above MA |
| West Tisbury 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% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±6.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±7.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and West Tisbury 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| West Tisbury and Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10kLowest 46% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$182,750±$73k 76% above MA |
| Needham and West Tisbury 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 |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,302,100±$187k 132% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,350±$519 33% above 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 |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,497 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26%±43.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
17 minLowest 43% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.3%±20.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and West Tisbury 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #181 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Douglas | Needham | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
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.