Compare towns
Chilmark vs Dover vs Gorham
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).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k 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 | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
2,308 |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Dover 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. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 95% above U.S. |
— | $1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Chilmark and Gorham 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±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 | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | — | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.