1st Advantage MortgageIn Dukes County, Massachusetts, the typical household earns $125,786 a year and the typical rent is $1,277. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Massachusetts before sharing details.
On this page
- Dukes County at a glance
- Work, industries and travel time in Dukes County
- How much Dukes County households make
- Dukes County housing compared with Massachusetts
- Dukes County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Dukes County
- Budget math at the Dukes County median
- Before borrowing in Dukes County
- More Dukes County figures
- Who licenses lenders for Dukes County residents
- Steps before you apply in Dukes County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dukes County at a glance
Dukes County is home to about 20,933 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 13th most populous of 14 county-level areas in Massachusetts. It covers 103 square miles of land, or about 203 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Dukes County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 8 Census places inside Dukes County, Tisbury leads by population with about 4,893; 5 of the 8 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Dukes County
The biggest employer of Dukes County residents, by industry, is professional and administrative services at 23% of workers, followed by education and health care (20%). Compared with Massachusetts, the county leans toward construction (14% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.6% in Dukes County. 2% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 22% work from home. Only 3.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Dukes County | Gap to Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and administrative services | 22.6% | +6.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.2% | -7.9 pts |
| Construction | 14.3% | +8.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.1% | +4.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.0% | -1.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.2% | -2.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much Dukes County households make
Dukes County households have a median income of $125,786 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 4th of 14 in Massachusetts.
| Household income | Dukes County | vs Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.9% | -5.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 28.8% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.0% | +4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 24.3% | +2.0 pts |
Some 13% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 58% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 4.4% of Dukes County residents in poverty, against 10.0% across Massachusetts. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.553 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Dukes County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Dukes County housing compared with Massachusetts
A typical Dukes County rental runs $1,277 a month including utilities, which is 28% below Massachusetts. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. Home values center on $1,165,800, or 9.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 82%. Half the housing stock was built before 1982.
| Measure | Dukes County | Massachusetts | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,277/mo | $1,762/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $1,165,800 | $562,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 52% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% | 0.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 57% | 8% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Dukes County and the counties next door
Newport County is closest, 31 miles from center to center; the sixth, Plymouth County, is 42 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Dukes County; Nantucket County is highest at $139,688 and Bristol County lowest at $85,625. Some neighbors are in Rhode Island. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Dukes County resident follows Massachusetts rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dukes County | - | $125,786 | $1,277/mo | 82% |
| Newport County, RI | 31 mi | $103,514 | $1,713/mo | 68% |
| Nantucket County, MA | 32 mi | $139,688 | $2,213/mo | 72% |
| Bristol County, MA | 32 mi | $85,625 | $1,245/mo | 62% |
| Barnstable County, MA | 36 mi | $95,241 | $1,678/mo | 81% |
| Bristol County, RI | 38 mi | $114,490 | $1,528/mo | 72% |
| Plymouth County, MA | 42 mi | $114,201 | $1,747/mo | 78% |
The communities that make up Dukes County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 71% of Dukes County residents live in one of the 8. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Edgartown, $74,113 in Tisbury. Median rent ranges from $690 in Tisbury to $2,750 in Chilmark. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tisbury | town | 4,893 | $74,113 | $690 | 8 mi |
| West Tisbury | town | 3,080 | $182,750 | $2,350 | 3 mi |
| Vineyard Haven | CDP | 2,469 | $77,665 | $1,711 | 7 mi |
| Chilmark | town | 1,578 | $168,750 | $2,750 | 7 mi |
| Oak Bluffs | CDP | 1,184 | n/a | $1,077 | 9 mi |
| Edgartown | CDP | 904 | $250,001 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Aquinnah | town | 666 | $146,354 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Gosnold | town | 31 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Budget math at the Dukes County median
Here is the Dukes County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $10,482 gross per month ($125,786 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,277, which is 12% of it
- At 43%, room after rent is $3,230 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Dukes County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Dukes County
A few patterns in the Dukes County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Retirees. At a median age of 50.7, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 58% of Dukes County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Rent squeeze. 47% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
More Dukes County figures
College graduates make up 52% of the adult population. 2.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Dukes County | All of Massachusetts | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.7 | 40.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 51.9% | 47.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.7% | 8.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.1% | 2.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 11.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 21.6% | 18.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 4.4% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.6% | 5.2% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Dukes County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.5% |
| 60+ min | 1.8% |
Who licenses lenders for Dukes County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Dukes County resident can confirm its license with the Massachusetts Division of Banks. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Massachusetts guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Dukes County
A short checklist for Dukes County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Massachusetts.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Massachusetts guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Dukes County household make?
About $125,786 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 21% above the Massachusetts median.
How much is rent in Dukes County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,277 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Dukes County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 82% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Dukes County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Tisbury, West Tisbury, Vineyard Haven, Chilmark, Oak Bluffs.
Does living in Dukes County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Dukes County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.