What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rowley has the most affordable homes ($667k median).

West Tisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rowley	West Tisbury
People
Population	6,251Highest	3,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50±6.3Lowest 25% above MA	54.8±5.4Highest 37% above MA
	West Tisbury and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%	14.9%±6.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Rowley and West Tisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.2%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	West Tisbury and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	58.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.8%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	West Tisbury and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA	$182,750±$73kHighest 76% above MA
	West Tisbury and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA	$1,302,100±$187kHighest 132% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA	$2,350±$519Highest 33% above MA
	West Tisbury and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,309Highest 39% above MA	$6,497Lowest 8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%	26%±43.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Rowley and West Tisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%	3.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	92.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 3% below MA	17 minLowest 43% below MA
Work from home	11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.3%±20.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	West Tisbury and Rowley 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	#214 of 282 in MA	#181 of 282 in MA
School district	Triton	Up-Island Regional
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.