Compare towns
Chilmark vs Marion vs Wareham 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).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k 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 | Marion | Wareham | West Tisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
5,310 |
23,302Highest |
3,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+29.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
53.8±4 35% above MA |
52.1±3.1Lowest 30% above MA |
54.8±5.4Highest 37% above MA |
| West Tisbury and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±6.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion 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 |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$182,750±$73kHighest 76% above MA |
| West Tisbury and Chilmark 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 |
$653,500±$47k 16% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,302,100±$187k 132% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$2,350±$519 33% above MA |
| Chilmark and West Tisbury 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 |
$5,766 4% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,497Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
26%±43.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
17 minLowest 43% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.3%±20.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West Tisbury 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 | — | #141 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #181 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Marion | Wareham | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.