Compare towns

Chilmark vs Upton vs Douglas

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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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.

MeasureChilmarkUptonDouglas
People
Population
1,578Lowest
8,189
9,207Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+40%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±8.1Highest
34% above MA
46.4±4.8
16% above MA
44±2.6Lowest
10% above MA
Chilmark and Upton 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.2%±3.8
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Douglas 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%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Chilmark and Upton 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%
53.5%
MA: 47.3%
41.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2.6
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
Douglas and Chilmark 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
$155,508±$33k
50% above MA
$152,267±$10kLowest
46% above MA
Chilmark and Upton 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
$576,700±$41k
about the MA average
$470,600±$29kLowest
16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,750±$2kHighest
56% above MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,503±$697
15% below MA
Chilmark and Douglas 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
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$6,338
6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±59.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Highest
MA: 51.8%
33.9%±17.4
MA: 51.8%
Upton and Douglas 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%
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%
MA: 62.5%
83.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
20 yrs newer than MA
1981Lowest
17 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
8% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
34 min
16% above MA
Work from home
25.7%±11Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
20.9%±4.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Chilmark and Upton 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 — #46 of 282 in MA #177 of 282 in MA
School district Up-Island Regional Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Douglas
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2Highest
7.2Lowest
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.