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Chilmark Town Hall at 401 Middle Road in Chilmark, Massachusetts.

Living in Chilmark, Massachusetts

Chilmark is a town on the western side of Martha's Vineyard, bordered by Aquinnah to the west and West Tisbury to the east, with Vineyard Sound on its north shore and the Atlantic Ocean on its south. It was incorporated in 1694, the first town set off from the island's original towns of Tisbury and Edgartown, and it includes the fishing village of Menemsha as well as Peaked Hill, the highest point on Martha's Vineyard at 311 feet.

Chilmark center (Beetlebung Corner)Menemsha

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0

Chilmark at a glance

Chilmark's villages and zip codes

Chilmark, including Menemsha, uses a single ZIP code, 02535, which it shares with neighboring Aquinnah.

Chilmark villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Chilmark center (Beetlebung Corner)02535The crossroads of South Road, Middle Road and Menemsha Cross Road, where Town Hall, the fire department, police station, post office and library are grouped together.
Menemsha02535A working fishing harbor on the western side of town along Menemsha Pond and Vineyard Sound, with a public beach, Coast Guard station and fish markets along Basin Road.

Things to do in Chilmark, MA

Start with Menemsha and Menemsha Hills Reservation, then 3 more below.

  1. Menemsha

    A working fishing harbor on the town's western side, with commercial fishing boats, charter boats and a public beach at the mouth of Menemsha Pond. The village and harbor were used as the setting for the fictional town of Amity Island in the 1975 film Jaws.

    FreeYear-round

    Basin Road, Menemsha, MA

  2. Menemsha Hills Reservation

    A Trustees of Reservations property northeast of Menemsha with wooded trails leading to bluffs above Vineyard Sound, including views from Prospect Hill.

    FreeYear-round

    North Road, Chilmark, MA

    Plan a visit

  3. Peaked Hill Reservation

    A Martha's Vineyard Land Bank property centered on Peaked Hill, the island's highest point at 311 feet, with trailheads off Tabor House Road and Middle Road and remnants of a World War II-era radar station at Radar Hill.

    FreeYear-round

    Middle Road, Chilmark, MA

    Plan a visit

  4. Chilmark Community Center

    A town social and recreation center at Beetlebung Corner with a pool, tennis courts and seasonal programs for both year-round residents and summer visitors.

    Seasonal

    Menemsha Crossroad, Chilmark, MA

    Plan a visit

  5. Chilmark Free Public Library

    The town's public library, opened in 2003 near Beetlebung Corner.

    FreeYear-round

    522 South Road, Chilmark, MA

    Plan a visit

More worth a visit

  • Menemsha Bike FerryA seasonal passenger and bicycle ferry across Menemsha Pond connecting Chilmark to Aquinnah, running since 1990.
  • Menemsha Public BeachA public beach at Menemsha Harbor, popular for watching the sunset over Vineyard Sound.

Around the calendar

  • May
    Blessing of the FleetAn annual Memorial Day weekend ceremony at Menemsha Harbor, organized by the Chilmark Community Church, in which the names of the harbor's fishing, leisure and Coast Guard boats are read aloud.

A little history

Chilmark was incorporated on September 14, 1694, the first town to separate from the island's original towns of Tisbury and Edgartown, and was named for Chilmark, Wiltshire, the English home of Governor Thomas Mayhew's family.

In the 19th century Chilmark had an unusually high rate of hereditary deafness, giving rise to Martha's Vineyard Sign Language, which was used by both deaf and hearing residents.

President Barack Obama and his family vacationed in Chilmark in August 2009, 2010 and 2011, renting the Blue Heron Farm property.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Chilmark

Chilmark's coastline and interior give it some of the Vineyard's most varied outdoor recreation, from the fishing harbor at Menemsha to the island's highest point at Peaked Hill.

  • Menemsha Public BeachA public beach at the mouth of Menemsha Harbor on Vineyard Sound.
  • Squibnocket BeachAn Atlantic-facing beach on Chilmark's south shore near the Aquinnah town line, with a beach pass required for some areas.
  • Menemsha Hills ReservationTrustees of Reservations trails through woods and bluffs above Vineyard Sound.More information
  • Peaked Hill ReservationLand Bank trails to the 311-foot summit of Peaked Hill, the highest point on Martha's Vineyard.More information

Where to eat in Chilmark: restaurants and coffee

4 places in Chilmark to try, including seafood market and seafood market. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Chilmark

Beetlebung Corner and Menemsha each have a small walkable core around their shops, docks and public buildings, but Chilmark is otherwise a rural town of large lots and winding roads, and getting between the two centers or out to the beaches and reservations generally requires a car or bicycle.

Chilmark center (Beetlebung Corner)

401 Middle Road, Chilmark, MA 02535

Check any Chilmark address

Drive times

  • Falmouth (via ferry), about 12 miles45 (ferry) min
  • Martha's Vineyard Airport, about 9 miles20-25 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

The Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority's Route 5 connects West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah along South Road. There is no train or year-round ferry service in Chilmark; the nearest Steamship Authority terminals are in Vineyard Haven, about 12 miles away, and Oak Bluffs. A seasonal bike ferry crosses Menemsha Pond to Aquinnah.

Chilmark property taxes

Chilmark's FY2026 residential tax rate is $2.28 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $228 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $8,024, on an average assessed value of $3,519,430.

Chilmark's FY2026 tax rates

$2.28per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$2.28 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$3,519,430
  • Average single-family tax bill$8,024
  • Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

Chilmark property tax calculator

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Assessed value (100%)
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Taxes a year
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About this much a month
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Estimate at the FY2026 residential rate; the assessor's value sets the bill.

Add it to a full payment estimate

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal yearResidential rate
FY2022$2.82
FY2023$2.63
FY2024$2.12
FY2025$2.25
FY2026$2.28

Look up a Chilmark property

Buying a home in Chilmark

What we check on a Chilmark purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, wells & septic, smoke & co certificate, transfer station sticker.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Dukes County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Chilmark's Atlantic-facing south shore and its shared coastal ponds with Aquinnah, including Squibnocket Pond and Tisbury Great Pond, put low-lying shoreline parcels in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Chilmark
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Chilmark Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 508-645-2207 to schedule.

Chilmark Fire Department page
Wells & septic

Most homes rely on private wells and septic systems

Chilmark has no townwide water or sewer system, so most properties use private wells and septic systems. Massachusetts law requires a Title 5 septic inspection before a home on a septic system can be sold.

Chilmark Board of Health
Smoke & CO certificate

Massachusetts requires a smoke and CO certificate before closing

Sellers in Massachusetts need a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close.

Chilmark Fire Department
Transfer station sticker

Trash goes through a shared drop-off district

Chilmark has no curbside trash pickup. Residents bring trash and recycling to the Chilmark Local Drop-off, part of the Martha's Vineyard Refuse Disposal and Resource Recovery District, using a dump sticker.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

James Allen

Thinking about buying in Chilmark?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Chilmark address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Chilmark: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Chilmark: Eversource for power.

Chilmark Local Drop-off

Head of the Pond Road, Chilmark, MA Summer: Wednesday 8am-5pm, Sunday 1pm-5pm. Winter: Wednesday 8am-4pm, Sunday 1pm-4pm.

Transfer station details

Town Hall offices and contacts

Chilmark Town Hall is at 401 Middle Road, Chilmark, MA 02535. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Main line: 508-645-2107.

Chilmark, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Chilmark, MA?

Chilmark's FY2026 residential tax rate is $2.28 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Chilmark?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $912 a year at $2.28 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Chilmark have a split tax rate?

No. Chilmark uses a single rate of $2.28 per $1,000 for all property classes.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Chilmark?

The average single-family tax bill in Chilmark was $8,024 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $3,519,430.

What ZIP code does Chilmark use?

Chilmark, including Menemsha, uses ZIP code 02535, which it shares with neighboring Aquinnah.

Is trash pickup curbside in Chilmark?

No. Chilmark has no curbside collection; residents bring trash and recycling to the Chilmark Local Drop-off, part of the Martha's Vineyard Refuse Disposal and Resource Recovery District, using a dump sticker.

Who supplies electricity in Chilmark?

Eversource is the electric utility serving Chilmark; the town has no natural gas service.

Is there public transit in Chilmark?

The Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority's Route 5 runs along South Road between West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah. A seasonal bike ferry also crosses Menemsha Pond to Aquinnah.

How far is Chilmark from the mainland?

Chilmark has no ferry terminal of its own. The nearest Steamship Authority terminal is in Vineyard Haven, about 12 miles from the town center, with ferry service to Woods Hole in Falmouth.

What is Beetlebung Corner?

Beetlebung Corner is the crossroads of South Road, Middle Road and Menemsha Cross Road where Chilmark's Town Hall, fire department, police station, library and post office are grouped together.

Towns near Chilmark

Neighbors of Chilmark, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources