Martha’s Vineyard Summer Population Swells To This Many People

I have never been to Martha's Vineyard during the winter. Chances are you haven't either unless you live on the island, have family or friends who do, own property there, or work there. For most of us, Martha's Vineyard is a summertime destination.

But some people do spend winter on Martha's Vineyard. The Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce says, "The population changes dramatically from one season to the next."

According to the Chamber, "The year-round population is close to 23,000, and in the summer, there can be as many as 200,000 people on the island."

The climate on Martha's Vineyard is temperate, thanks in part to the Gulf Stream. During the summer, the island is "typically 8-12 degrees cooler" than mainland Massachusetts." The winters are more tolerable on the island than on the mainland, with temperatures on average "8-12 degrees warmer."

The Vineyard's average high temperature in December and January is 54 degrees, and the low is 40 degrees.

The Chamber says the island's lifestyle, which it describes as "a vibrant arts and culture scene," offers year-round "sophisticated experiences," attracting residents and tourists.

Duke's County, Massachusetts, consists of Martha's Vineyard and the islands included in the Elizabeth Islands chain. The Vineyard is only seven miles south of the Massachusetts mainland.

Dukes County is home to over 21,000 permanent residents.

Nantucket is not a part of Dukes County. The island and the smaller islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget form the Town and County of Nantucket.

According to a 2021 article in The Cape Cod Times, based on U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the median price for a home on Martha's Vineyard was around $800,000.

Former President Barack Obama owns a mansion on the Vineyard. Award-winning pop singer Carly Simon is a year-round Vineyard resident, too. The island is considered to be one of the more expensive area codes in the country.