Compare towns
Chilmark vs Dover vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
2,308 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Springfield 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
— | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Chilmark and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | — | Springfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.