Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Chilmark vs Berlin vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Williamsburg | Chilmark | Berlin | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694 |
1,578 |
3,378Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4 25% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
49.3±6.7Lowest 23% above MA |
| Chilmark and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Williamsburg and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,420±$933 37% above MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Chilmark and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761 4% below MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Williamsburg 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 | — | — | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Williamsburg | Up-Island Regional | Berlin-Boylston | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.