Compare towns
Chilmark vs Dover vs Sutton vs Aquinnah
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 oldest population (median age 53.6).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Aquinnah has the most people working from home (52.1%).
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 | Sutton | Aquinnah |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,578 |
5,930 |
9,452Highest |
666Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
47.8±7.8 20% above MA |
| Chilmark and Aquinnah 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% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±8.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Aquinnah 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±6.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Aquinnah 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$146,354±$69kLowest 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,878,700±$215k 234% above MA |
| Chilmark and Aquinnah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2k 56% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
— |
| Dover and Chilmark 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
32.7%±45.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Aquinnah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 32% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
52.1%±12Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Aquinnah and Dover 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.