Compare towns

Chilmark vs Hardwick 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 highest household income ($169k).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k 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.

MeasureChilmarkHardwickAquinnah
People
Population
1,578
2,684Highest
666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+40%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
53.6±8.1Highest
34% above MA
45.3±9.8Lowest
13% 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%
20.5%±5.6
MA: 19.4%
26.4%±8.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
Aquinnah and Hardwick 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%
22.7%±5Lowest
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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
30.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
65.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±4.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±4
MA: 7.9%
Hardwick and Aquinnah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$168,750±$28kHighest
62% above MA
$75,000±$22kLowest
28% below MA
$146,354±$69k
41% above MA
Chilmark and Aquinnah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,895,300±$281kHighest
237% above MA
$346,700±$67kLowest
38% 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±$2kHighest
56% above MA
$1,108±$119Lowest
37% below MA
—
Chilmark and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,485
25% below MA
$4,400Lowest
27% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±59.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
59%±13.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
32.7%±45.3
MA: 51.8%
Hardwick and Aquinnah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
11%Highest
MA: 10%
5.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
68.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
79.6%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
8% above MA
31 min
7% above MA
20 minLowest
32% below MA
Work from home
25.7%±11
MA: 18.6%
8.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
52.1%±12Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #163 of 282 in MA —
School district Up-Island Regional Quabbin —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.