Compare towns
Chilmark vs Needham vs Lancaster
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%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Needham | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
32,459Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Lancaster 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,338±$539Lowest 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 |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Needham | Nashoba |
| 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 |
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.