Compare towns
Chilmark vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
West Stockbridge has the shortest commute (25 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 | Townsend | West Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578 |
9,100Highest |
1,250Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.8%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
74.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 62% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$107,083±$20kLowest 3% above MA |
| Chilmark and Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$535,700±$65k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,518±$281 14% below MA |
| Chilmark and West Stockbridge 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,875 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
63.6%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Stockbridge and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±8.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.