Compare towns
Dover vs Orange vs Ware 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).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Orange | Ware | Chilmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308 |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
1,578Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 19% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% 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%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Dover 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% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Ware 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
| Chilmark and Ware 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 |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Ware 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.