Compare towns

Chilmark vs Williamsburg 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).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
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.

MeasureChilmarkWilliamsburgProvincetown
People
Population
1,578Lowest
2,694
3,703Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+40%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+24.5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±8.1
34% above MA
50±2.4Lowest
25% 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%
18.6%±4Highest
MA: 19.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Williamsburg 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%
22.7%±3.5Lowest
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%
60.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
61.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±2.7
MA: 7.9%
9.6%±6.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Provincetown and Williamsburg 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
$104,792±$21kLowest
about the MA average
$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
$403,100±$37kLowest
28% below MA
$902,200±$180k
61% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,750±$2kHighest
56% above MA
$1,420±$228
19% below MA
$1,261±$415Lowest
28% below MA
Chilmark and Williamsburg 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
$5,761Highest
4% below MA
$4,927
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±59.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
61%±28Highest
MA: 51.8%
57.3%±17.2
MA: 51.8%
Williamsburg and Provincetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%
MA: 10%
2.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.2%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
82.2%
MA: 62.5%
76.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1961
3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
8% above MA
25 min
13% below MA
13 minLowest
55% below MA
Work from home
25.7%±11Lowest
MA: 18.6%
26.5%±6.7
MA: 18.6%
31.5%±9.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
Provincetown and Williamsburg 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 — — #254 of 282 in MA
School district Up-Island Regional Williamsburg Provincetown
High school in town None 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.