Compare towns
Dover vs Northampton vs Chilmark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
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 | Dover | Northampton | Chilmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308 |
30,962Highest |
1,578Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 19% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
| Chilmark and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
| Chilmark and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | — | Northampton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.