Compare towns
Chilmark vs Dover vs Upton vs West Tisbury
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).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
West Tisbury has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Upton | West Tisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
5,930 |
8,189Highest |
3,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+29.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
54.8±5.4Highest 37% above MA |
| West Tisbury and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±6.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±7.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and West Tisbury 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and West Tisbury 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 |
$182,750±$73k 76% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,302,100±$187k 132% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2k 56% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,350±$519 33% above 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,497 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
26%±43.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Chilmark 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
17 minLowest 43% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.3%±20.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and West Tisbury 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 | #181 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.