Compare towns

Chilmark vs Dover vs Epping

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k 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.

MeasureChilmarkDoverEpping
People
Population
1,578Lowest
2,308
7,430Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+40%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±8.1Highest
38% above U.S.
47.5±4
22% above U.S.
45.1±3.5Lowest
16% above U.S.
Chilmark and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
Dover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
36.2%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Chilmark and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
83.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.4%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Epping 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
109% above U.S.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
$104,220±$7kLowest
29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,895,300±$281kHighest
470% above U.S.
$1,308,300±$149k
293% above U.S.
$436,900±$35kLowest
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,750±$2kHighest
95% above U.S.
—
$1,742±$576Lowest
23% above U.S.
Chilmark and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,485Lowest
44% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,936
122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±59.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.8%±25.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
19% above U.S.
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
32 min
22% above U.S.
Work from home
25.7%±11
U.S.: 15.1%
37.4%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Chilmark 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 — #1 of 282 in MA #77 of 120 in NH
School district Up-Island Regional — Epping School District
High school in town None in town — Epping High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.