Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Chilmark’s subject grades are an A+ for walkability and an A for health and safety; the weakest is a D for cost of living. Chilmark’s typical home value is $2,428,000, against $633,000 in Massachusetts’ towns and $332,000 across U.S. towns. Among 284 Massachusetts towns, just 7 have a higher January low than Chilmark. Chilmark’s trail density is 0.4 miles per square mile, below Massachusetts’ towns (1.8) and close to U.S. towns (0.4). Barn House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Chilmark has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Chilmark beats most towns.
Census counts: 771 in 1790, a low of 183 in 1950, 1,212 in 2020. The archive holds 24 old photos and papers going back to 1782 and 5 maps from 1889 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Chilmark takes its name from Chilmark in Wiltshire, England, 3,230 miles across the Atlantic.
UKUK editionChilmark, settled in 1660, takes its name from Chilmark, a village in Wiltshire, England.
Named after: each U.S. town’s Wikipedia article. Grades compare each town with towns in its own country, so they aren’t a head-to-head.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Massachusetts), ordered by how far Chilmark is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Who provides power, water and the rest in Chilmark, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Chilmark.
89% of Chilmark households own their home. The typical Chilmark home is worth about $2,428,000, up 2.9% in a year, 4 times the Massachusetts typical home.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by the Up-Island Regional school district. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chilmark ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 69 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MA on state tests and graduation
Chilmark beats the Massachusetts average on 17 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 28% of adults feel lonely in Chilmark.
| Chilmark | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 33% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 28% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 85% | 82% | 79% |
| What stands out | Chilmark | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 4.2% | 11.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 6.1% | 12.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 13.3% | 8.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Chilmark’s violent crime rate is 0.8 per 1,000 residents.
| Chilmark | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4 per 1,000 residents | 4.9 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.8 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 72% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Chilmark has chilly winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Chilmark is 80°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Most working residents leave Chilmark for work: only 10% work in town. Jobs based in Chilmark grew to 355 in 2023, 141 more than in 2013. The top destinations are West Tisbury (19%), Oak Bluffs (13%) and Tisbury (12%).
| Chilmark | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $169,000 | $120,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 30 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 6% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
43 miles of trail in 15 parks and preserves. Menemsha Hills Reservation, at 226 acres with 3.8 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Menemsha Hills Reservation | 3.8 mi | 226 |
| 2. Peaked Hill Reservation | 2.7 mi | 145 |
| 3. Middle Road Sanctuary | 1.9 mi | 101 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Chilmark. Close and well known come first.
Big draw29 mi MuseumThe Breakers
34 mi MuseumUSS Massachusetts
36 mi Ancient siteHMS Endeavour
29 mi MuseumMarble House
30 mi MuseumThe Elms
30 mi MuseumRosecliffThe Breakers: UpstateNYer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · USS Massachusetts: USN, Public domain · HMS Endeavour: Samuel Atkins (c.1760-1810), Public domain · Marble House: [email protected], Public domain · The Elms: The original uploader was Daderot at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Rosecliff: n ole, CC BY 2.0
None within 15 miles of Chilmark; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Chilmark residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across Massachusetts.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
3 notable people were born in Chilmark.
Town in Massachusetts, United States
Chilmark is a town on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. The population was 1,212 at the 2020 census. The fishing village of Menemsha is located on the western side of the town along its border with the town of Aquinnah. Chilmark had the highest median home sale price of any town or city in Massachusetts in 2013.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Yes. The typical home is worth about $2,428,000, 271% above the Massachusetts typical home and up 2.9% in a year. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
3 notable people were born here, including Timothy Fuller and John W. Mayhew.
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