Compare towns
Chilmark vs Needham vs Needham 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).
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 | Needham | Needham | West Tisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
3,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+29.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
54.8±5.4Highest 37% above MA |
| West Tisbury 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±6.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| West Tisbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $168,750±$28kLowest 62% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$182,750±$73k 76% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,302,100±$187k 132% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,350±$519Lowest 33% above MA |
| Chilmark and Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,497 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26%±43.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
17 minLowest 43% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.3%±20.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #181 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | — | Needham | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.