Compare towns
Chilmark vs Reading vs Leverett vs Egremont
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%).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Leverett has the most affordable homes ($436k median).
Egremont has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Reading | Leverett | Egremont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,578 |
25,612Highest |
1,608 |
1,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
56±6.4 40% above MA |
56.9±13.6Highest 42% above MA |
| Egremont and Leverett 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
10.9%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
34.8%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±9.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Leverett 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% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
67.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Egremont and Reading 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$104,688±$18k about the MA average |
$101,458±$30kLowest about the MA average |
| Chilmark and Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$435,500±$35kLowest 23% below MA |
$664,900±$109k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,389±$135 21% below MA |
$1,349±$393Lowest 23% below MA |
| Chilmark and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485 25% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,779 13% above MA |
$3,647Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
8.5%±40.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Leverett 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
44 minHighest 50% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Egremont 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Reading | Leverett | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.