Compare towns
Chilmark vs Dover vs Exeter
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).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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.
| Measure | Chilmark | Dover | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
2,308 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chilmark and Exeter 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% |
59.2%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% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 95% above U.S. |
— | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Chilmark and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Exeter 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% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.