Compare towns
Chilmark vs Natick vs West Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Natick has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
West Stockbridge has the most affordable homes ($536k median).
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 | Natick | West Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578 |
36,873Highest |
1,250Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
56.8±4.4Highest 42% above MA |
| West Stockbridge and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.8%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and West Stockbridge 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% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and West Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
74.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and West Stockbridge 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 |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$107,083±$20kLowest 3% above MA |
| Chilmark and Natick 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 |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$535,700±$65kLowest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$1,518±$281Lowest 14% below MA |
| Chilmark and Natick 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 |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$4,875 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
63.6%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Stockbridge and Natick 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±8.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West Stockbridge 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 | — | #48 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Natick | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Natick High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.