Compare towns

Chilmark vs Walpole vs Aquinnah

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 oldest population (median age 53.6).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).
Aquinnah has the most people working from home (52.1%).

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.

MeasureChilmarkWalpoleAquinnah
People
Population
1,578
26,388Highest
666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+40%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
53.6±8.1Highest
34% above MA
40.9±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
47.8±7.8
20% above MA
Chilmark and Aquinnah 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%
25.1%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
26.4%±8.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
Aquinnah and Walpole 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%
16.9%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
24.9%±6.4
MA: 17.9%
Chilmark and Aquinnah 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%
67.4%
MA: 47.3%
65.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±4
MA: 7.9%
Walpole and Aquinnah 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
$171,500±$16kHighest
65% above MA
$146,354±$69kLowest
41% 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
$687,100±$20kLowest
22% above MA
$1,878,700±$215k
234% above MA
Chilmark and Aquinnah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,750±$2kHighest
56% above MA
$2,205±$222Lowest
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
$4,485Lowest
25% below MA
$8,523
42% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±59.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
37.8%±9.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
32.7%±45.3
MA: 51.8%
Walpole and Aquinnah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%
MA: 10%
3.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.5%
MA: 62.5%
79.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1977Lowest
13 yrs newer than MA
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
8% above MA
34 minHighest
15% above MA
20 minLowest
32% below MA
Work from home
25.7%±11Lowest
MA: 18.6%
28.2%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
52.1%±12Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #107 of 282 in MA —
School district Up-Island Regional Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole —
High school in town None in town Walpole High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3
—
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.