Compare towns
Chilmark vs Reading vs Walpole vs Gosnold
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Gosnold has the shortest commute (10 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 | Reading | Walpole | Gosnold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,578 |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
31Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
60.5±20.5Highest 51% above MA |
| Gosnold 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.7%±100Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Gosnold and Chilmark 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% |
67.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
0%±63.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
— |
| Walpole 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 |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$700,000±$154k 25% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
— |
| Chilmark and Walpole 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 |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$2,667Lowest 55% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Walpole and Chilmark 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
0%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
10 minLowest 67% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±72.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Gosnold |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.