Compare towns
Townsend vs Chilmark vs East Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
East Bridgewater has the most kids (21.2% 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 | Townsend | Chilmark | East Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,578Lowest |
14,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
41.6±2.2 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and East Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$133,853±$9k 29% above MA |
| Chilmark and East Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$510,200±$32k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,981±$671 12% above MA |
| Chilmark and East Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 about the MA average |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,522Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±20.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
32 minLowest 8% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and East Bridgewater 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #204 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Up-Island Regional | East Bridgewater |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | East Bridgewater JR./SR. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
| 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.