Dukes County
MA · Pop. 20,751 · Mixed County
Dukes County sits in Massachusetts across 103 square miles, home to 20,751 people at 201.5 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, tomatoes, herbs. The median home price is $1,104,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.5%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 158-day growing season, average summer highs of 76.3°F and average winter lows of 23.9°F. Annual rainfall averages 45.2 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Martha's Vineyard Hospital Inc is 8.4 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 98% of homes.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.5% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 98% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Martha's Vineyard Hospital Inc, with an emergency room, is just 8.4 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- Annual rainfall of 45.2 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
- A low poverty rate of 5.4% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- A 158-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- A median home price of $1,104,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
- At 201.5 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
At a glance
Dukes County, MA is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 58/100
- Median home price
- $1104k
- Property tax
- 0.5%
- Growing season
- 158 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 45.2"
- Broadband
- 98%
- Nearest hospital
- Martha's Vineyard Hospital Inc, 8.4 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Dukes County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Dukes County?
- Dukes County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 158-day growing season, average summer highs of 76.3°F, and average winter lows of 23.9°F. The established crops are hay, tomatoes, herbs.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $1,104,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.5%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 98% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Martha's Vineyard Hospital Inc is 8.4 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Massachusetts Resources
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LandWatch
Browse rural land, farms, and ranches for sale across every state.
Lands of America
The largest listing site for rural property — farms, ranches, hunting land, and timberland.
AcreTrader
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More counties in Massachusetts
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The closest counties to Dukes County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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