Compare towns
Chilmark vs Dover vs Methuen
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).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k 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 | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
2,308 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Methuen and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Methuen 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
— | $1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
| Chilmark and Methuen 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | — | Methuen |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.