Compare towns
Chilmark vs Dover vs Worcester
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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
2,308 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% 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%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester 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 62% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
— | $1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
| Chilmark and Worcester 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | None in town | — | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.6 |
| 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.