Compare towns
Tisbury vs Salisbury vs Oak Bluffs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.9%).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($479k median).
Oak Bluffs has the most kids (24.5% under 18).
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 | Tisbury | Salisbury | Oak Bluffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,893Lowest |
9,281Highest |
5,407 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+18% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.7Highest 32% above MA |
51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
43.6±6.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Tisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.5%±7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oak Bluffs and Tisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±7.3 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Tisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Tisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,113±$5kLowest 29% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$145,196±$37kHighest 40% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $993,600±$141kHighest 77% above MA |
$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$923,100±$132k 64% above MA |
| Tisbury and Oak Bluffs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $690±$683Lowest 61% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,099±$666 38% below MA |
| Salisbury and Oak Bluffs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,721Highest 29% above MA |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$4,845 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.9%±82.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
36.6%±34.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Tisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 29% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
13 minLowest 54% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.6%±10.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Tisbury and Salisbury 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 | #127 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | #111 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Tisbury | Triton | Oak Bluffs · Martha's Vineyard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Martha's Vineyard Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5 |
| 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.