Compare towns
Chilmark vs Stow vs West Stockbridge
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%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
West Stockbridge has the most affordable homes ($536k median).
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 | Stow | West Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578 |
7,165Highest |
1,250Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
56.8±4.4Highest 42% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.8%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
74.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Stow 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±$28k 62% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$107,083±$20kLowest 3% above MA |
| Stow 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 |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$535,700±$65kLowest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,518±$281Lowest 14% below MA |
| Chilmark and Stow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,875 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
63.6%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Stockbridge and Stow 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±8.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and West Stockbridge 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 | — | #44 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Nashoba | — |
| High school 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.