Compare towns
Chilmark vs Epping vs Needham vs Egremont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Egremont has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Epping | Needham | Egremont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,578 |
7,430 |
32,459Highest |
1,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 38% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56.9±13.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Egremont 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.9%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±9.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chilmark and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Epping 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 109% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$101,458±$30kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$664,900±$109k 100% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,349±$393Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Chilmark and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485 44% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,647Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
8.5%±40.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
44 minHighest 65% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Egremont 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Epping School District | Needham | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.