Over the last several decades, the cost of market-rate housing on the Vineyard has soared to such levels that many year-round residents and seasonal workers are unable to find an adequate place to live, and many businesses and public-sector employers, including towns and the public school system, have increasing difficulty attracting and retaining the workforce they need to provide basic services. To maintain a healthy, functional, and economically diverse community, we need to ensure that there is a full range of housing options for the many year-round residents whose needs are not met by market-rate housing.

• The Housing Situation on Martha's Vineyard
• Who’s Who in Housing on the Vineyard

The MVC convenes the following two housing groups (see MVC Calendar for meeting dates):

• Joint Affordable Housing Group: The JAHG has met since 2005, bringing together representatives of town affordable housing committees, Island housing organizations, and interested individuals to coordinate Islandwide support for addressing housing needs and implementing housing-related strategies from the 2009 Island Plan and 2024 Housing Needs Assessment.

• Housing Action Task Force: The HATF is the forum for convening state and local stakeholders to advance specific housing policy initiatives. This group is geared towards educating government officials and community policy leaders, and is open to the entire community.

Key Documents and Resources 

2026 Housing Production Plans

Final drafts:

Aquinnah - Filed with state, awaiting approval. 
Chilmark - Filed with state, awaiting approval. 
Edgartown - Approved March 26, 2026 (expires March 25, 2031)
Oak Bluffs - Approved Feb. 5, 2026 (expires Feb. 4, 2031)
Tisbury
West Tisbury - Filed with state, awaiting approval. 

Subsidized Housing Inventory Summary

2024 Zoning Analysis for Housing Solutions

• Zoning analysis for housing solutions
• Model Bylaws
• Slides from 1-22-25 presentation

2024 Housing Needs Assessment

• Martha's Vineyard Housing Needs Assessment, September 2024
• Martha's Vineyard Housing Needs Assessment Presentation, October 2024

Housing Action Task Force & Joint Affordable Housing Group Meeting Recordings

• Meeting Recordings- MVCs Housing Advocacy Playlist on YouTube

Other Housing Documents

• The State of Housing on MV (updated June 2024)
• MV Statistical Profile - Housing & Real Estate Extract (MVC report 5/2023)
• Affordable & Community Housing Zoning Analysis on MV (MVC report 2014)
• DCRHA Dukes County Regional Housing Authority - Rental Assistance Program (links to their website)
  • Dukes County Rental Assistance Snapshot (DCRHA table 9/18/2025)
  • Dukes County Area Median Income Table (DCRHA table May 2025)
  • Rental Assistance by Income and Unit Size (2025/2026 - 100%AMI Maximum)
  • Rental Assistance by Income and Unit Size (2025/2026 - 120%AMI Maximum)

Housing Production Plans (2018)

• Aquinnah
• Chilmark
• Edgartown
• Oak Bluffs
• Tisbury
• West Tisbury

Housing Maps - Interactive

• Income Deed Restricted Housing Database Review (Suggestion - Watch the How-to Videos: 1) The Basics  2) Filter/Query/Get Statistics)
• Income Deed-Restricted Housing - Summarized by Project Site
• Monthly Real Estate Sales Data Dashboard & Map (MVC and Dukes County Registry of Deeds)
• Municipal Lots Mapping Tool - Potential Future Housing Sites