Compare towns
Chilmark vs Plainville vs Provincetown
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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Provincetown has the shortest commute (13 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 | Plainville | Provincetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
9,943Highest |
3,703 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+24.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56.3±2.6Highest 41% above MA |
| Provincetown 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% |
18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainville 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% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Provincetown 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% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
9.6%±6.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Provincetown and Plainville 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 |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$136,904±$44k 32% above MA |
| Chilmark and Provincetown 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 |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$902,200±$180k 61% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
$1,261±$415Lowest 28% below MA |
| Chilmark and Plainville 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 |
$5,329Highest 11% below MA |
$4,927 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Provincetown and Plainville 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
13 minLowest 55% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Provincetown 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 | — | #102 of 282 in MA | #254 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Plainville | Provincetown |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.