West Tisbury
West Tisbury is considered an up-island town, but it is also a transition town. It is here that thicketed island forests begin from which farms emerge for crops, horses, cows and sheep. Zoning is different here, too, with much of the land under 3-acre minimum zoning and newly instituted rules governing the size of single-family homes so as to help the area retain its small-town country feel.
It has taken a while for a town center to evolve, but residents can now point with pride to Cronig's Up Island Market, shops, medical facilities, bank, post office, library, art galleries and offices.
West Tisbury real estate prices are not as high, generally, as the down island towns of Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, and the generous zoning results in larger plots of land.
Lambert's Cove beach to the north and Long Point to the south are the most popular beaches and the ride to downtown Vineyard Haven can be 10 minutes or less.
Buying Property in West Tisbury
South Shore – The South Shore encompasses portions of South Beach, the area around Tisbury Great Pond and Long Point Beach. Recent prices range from $696,000 to $14M for Little Homer's Pond which featured 14 acres overlooking the South Shore.
Lambert's Cove – Home to one of the island's most beautiful and prized beaches, this North Shore area is open only to West Tisbury residents. The Lambert's Cove Inn is here, too. Recent sales range from $550,000 for land on Indian Hill Road to $2,915,000 in Makonikey.
Central West Tisbury – A combination of farms and forest and home to Alley's General Store, the area's rural nature gets you ready for the even more rural Chilmark next door. Recent sales range from $750,000 (land, 3 acres) to $5,750,000 for the 28-acre Merry Farm compound.
Tax Rate
The fiscal year 2022 approved tax rate for West Tisbury is $5.82, down from 2021's rate of $6.10.
Guest Houses
Guest houses are allowed in West Tisbury under nine specific conditions. A few of them are listed below. You are advised to check with the zoning and building departments in order to determine if your vision for the property meets all requirements.
The lot area must exceed, by 25% or more, that required by Schedule A for a single-family dwelling.
The guest house is no larger than one-half (1/2) that of the principal structure on the same lot as determined by square footage with a maximum of 600 sq. ft. of living space for the R-10 Zone. In all other zones the maximum size is 800 sq. ft.
Maximum height in all zones will not be greater than 24 ft.
Any existing lot that contains an existing inhabited building that is the same size or smaller than the square footage previously prescribed, can be considered a change of use from a principle structure to a guest house, so that you could build a larger principle structure.
West Tisbury Schools
West Tisbury has a reputation for providing excellent schools.
The West Tisbury School is a PK, K-8 curriculum in the Up-Island Regional School District, which also includes the Chilmark School. It is noted on the school's home page that breakfast and lunch are served throughout the school year to students without charge.
The Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School, which recently celebrated its 25th year in operation, is located in West Tisbury and provides education for kindergarten through high school. To learn more, click here.
