Compare towns

Chilmark vs Wakefield vs Provincetown

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).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Provincetown has the shortest commute (13 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.

MeasureChilmarkWakefieldProvincetown
People
Population
1,578Lowest
27,793Highest
3,703
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+40%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+8.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+24.5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±8.1
34% above MA
42.4±1.7Lowest
6% above MA
56.3±2.6Highest
41% above MA
Provincetown 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%
20%±2.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Wakefield 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%
19%±1.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
25%±5.7
MA: 17.9%
Chilmark and Provincetown 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%
59.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
61.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
9.6%±6.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Provincetown and Wakefield 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
$134,306±$14kLowest
29% above MA
$136,904±$44k
32% above MA
Chilmark and Provincetown 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
$723,500±$24kLowest
29% above MA
$902,200±$180k
61% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,750±$2kHighest
56% above MA
$1,958±$102
11% above MA
$1,261±$415Lowest
28% below MA
Chilmark and Wakefield 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
$7,779Highest
30% above MA
$4,927
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±59.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
43.7%±7.9
MA: 51.8%
57.3%±17.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Provincetown and Wakefield 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%
4.9%
MA: 10%
6.2%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
70.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
76.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1961
3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
8% above MA
33 minHighest
14% above MA
13 minLowest
55% below MA
Work from home
25.7%±11
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
31.5%±9.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
Provincetown 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 — #179 of 282 in MA #254 of 282 in MA
School district Up-Island Regional — Provincetown
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.