Compare towns
Chilmark vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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 | Northbridge | West Tisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
16,458Highest |
3,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+29.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±6.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Chilmark 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| West Tisbury and Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above 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 |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$1,302,100±$187k 132% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% 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 | $4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$6,497Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26%±43.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
17 minLowest 43% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #181 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Northbridge | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.