Compare towns

Chilmark vs Dover vs Upton

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).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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.

MeasureChilmarkDoverUpton
People
Population
1,578Lowest
2,308
8,189Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+40%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+8.3%
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±8.1Highest
34% above MA
47.5±4
19% above MA
46.4±4.8Lowest
16% above 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Upton 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%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
Chilmark and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%
MA: 47.3%
83.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2.6
MA: 7.9%
9.4%±4.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dover and Chilmark 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
$155,508±$33kLowest
50% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,895,300±$281kHighest
237% above MA
$1,308,300±$149k
133% above MA
$576,700±$41kLowest
about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,750±$2kHighest
56% above MA
—
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
Chilmark and Upton 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
$8,376
40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±59.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
Dover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%Highest
MA: 10%
3.3%
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1967Lowest
3 yrs newer than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
8% above MA
37 minHighest
26% above MA
35 min
22% above MA
Work from home
25.7%±11
MA: 18.6%
37.4%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Lowest
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 #46 of 282 in MA
School district Up-Island Regional — Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town None in town — Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.2
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.