Compare towns
Chilmark vs Plainfield vs West Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
West Stockbridge has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Plainfield | West Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578 |
2,522Highest |
1,250Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 38% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.8±4.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
74.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 109% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$107,083±$20kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$535,700±$65k 61% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,518±$281Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Chilmark and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,875 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Stockbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.