Compare towns

Chilmark vs Lancaster vs Gosnold

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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Gosnold has the shortest commute (10 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.

MeasureChilmarkLancasterGosnold
People
Population
1,578
8,606Highest
31Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+40%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
53.6±8.1
34% above MA
43.1±4.9Lowest
8% above MA
60.5±20.5Highest
51% above MA
Gosnold 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%
19.2%±4Highest
MA: 19.4%
0%±100Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Lancaster and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
36.2%±12.4
MA: 17.9%
19.9%±4.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
38.7%±100Highest
MA: 17.9%
Gosnold and Chilmark 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%
50.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
67.7%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2.6
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
0%±63.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Lancaster and Chilmark 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
$134,833±$27kLowest
30% above MA
—
Chilmark and Lancaster 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
$519,100±$60kLowest
8% below MA
$700,000±$154k
25% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,750±$2kHighest
56% above MA
$2,338±$539Lowest
33% above MA
—
Chilmark and Lancaster 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
$7,235Highest
21% above MA
$2,667Lowest
55% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±59.9
MA: 51.8%
68.3%±36.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Lancaster 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%
1.4%
MA: 10%
0%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
85.1%
MA: 62.5%
44.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
1962Lowest
2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
8% above MA
32 minHighest
9% above MA
10 minLowest
67% below MA
Work from home
25.7%±11
MA: 18.6%
33.6%±9.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
24.1%±72.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Lancaster 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 — #145 of 282 in MA —
School district Up-Island Regional Nashoba Gosnold
High school in town None 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.