Compare towns
Halifax vs Chilmark vs Plympton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Halifax | Chilmark | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
1,578Lowest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
| Chilmark and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$126,736±$20k 22% above MA |
| Chilmark and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Chilmark and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,628 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plympton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 minLowest 8% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Plympton 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | — | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Up-Island Regional | Plympton |
| 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.