$1,515,174Average Value$911Average Price per Sq Ft27Homes For Sale
Historic Black vacation destination
Oak Bluffs is known for its whimsical gingerbread houses, port of entry to Martha’s Vineyard and storied history as a summer refuge for Black Americans. This down-island town, in the geographic northeast of the island, is where tourists exit ferry boats during the summer high season, a phrase typically shortened to just "during season" by beach town locals. It's where gray-shingled beach houses look out into the Nantucket Sound, where people buy T-shirts and fresh doughnuts along Circuit Avenue and where the wind blows so hard that it’s easy to see why Massachusetts considered installing wind turbines on Cape Cod to create renewable energy.
Driving north into the center of Oak Bluffs over the bridge featured in “Jaws,” a concrete wall blocks ocean access on the right, and gray, weather-worn shingled houses sit on the left overlooking the water. Unlike buttoned-up Edgartown, where the white paint on picket fences is always fresh, shorefront Oak Bluffs homes feel like they’ve been kissed by the beach, as if the rumbling Nantucket Sound waves washed over the whole town at some point without causing damage.
Oak Bluffs has been a summer haven for the Black community for generations. In 1912, island property owner Charles Shearer, born enslaved in Virginia, opened Shearer Cottage, an inn catering to Black families who were not welcome elsewhere. The resort did well and operates today as the Inn at Shearer Cottage. In a 2023 essay for Martha’s Vineyard Magazine about the island as a reprieve for Black Americans, the writer Bijan C. Bayne described Martha's Vineyard as a “race machine” that instantly removed the prejudices that Black people face in their daily lives, where they could just be, and relax, without having to worry. “It was a place where I didn’t have to think about my complexion every day, and where my friends were far less likely to be judged by theirs,” Bayne wrote. Still, the island’s population is predominantly white. The population of Dukes County is 89% white, 5% Black, nearly 4% Hispanic or Latino and 1.4% Asian. Every year in August, Oak Bluffs hosts the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and a fireworks show.
The Overton House is a historic landmark just a short walk from downtown Oak Bluffs.
Visitors flock off the ferry and into the streets of Oak Bluff.
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Flying horses and live bands at a dive bar
The commercial district in Oak Bluffs is steps from where visitors exit ferry boats during season. It’s a relaxed area where pizza parlors, ice cream shops and clothing stores do business on the ground floor of what look to be residential buildings. Just before season starts in May, the town is flooded with construction workers and painters putting the finishing touches before all the tourists come. Construction workers come from off-island spots like New Bedford, says Lisa Lucier, owner and broker of Anchor Realty in Oak Bluffs. “If you got to the boats at 3 or 4 p.m. when they’re done for the day, they’re full of people getting on with their lunch box or whatever they’ve got with them,” she says.
Cafes like Aalia’s serve breakfast and coffee to caffeine-deprived customers. Aalia’s has a handful of small indoor tables and some seats by the window, not nearly enough to fit the lines of 80 or so people that stretch out the front door during season. Linda Jean’s Restaurant is open year-round, serving jerk chicken, oxtail and quarter-pound lobster rolls. The Flying Horses Carousel, which originated in Coney Island, is the oldest platform carousel in the U.S., and it sits inside a tiny red building near a median sign welcoming people to Oak Bluffs.
On nights and weekends, there’s the Ritz Café. It’s a dive bar and live music venue where people come for shows and Tuesday night karaoke. On Wednesdays, local bands like Johnny Hoy & the Bluefish crowd into the side of the joint and play bluesy dance music. The bar pours beers from breweries like Allagash and Maine Beer Co. The Sweet Life Café, an upscale eatery, is open year-round.
Grab the brass ring for a free ride at Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs
Listen to live music at Aalia’s in Oak Bluffs.
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Whimsical Victorian homes in Martha's Vineyard town
Across from the town beach is Ocean Park, a rolling, hilly park. It’s vast and open, overlooking the shoreline, and people walk through it via paved pathways and sit on benches. Whimsical Victorian homes with turrets and front porches surround the park, but the truly fantastical Oak Bluffs homes are at the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association. This historic district of about 300 homes started as a summer religious camp for Methodists, who lived in tents and eventually built cottages. Known as “gingerbread houses,” the cottages come in bright colors like blue, pink and purple and have names like “the Purple Lady.” Property owners lease their land, Lucier says, and about five or six gingerbread houses hit the market per year. “I just sold one, the last one I think that sold, maybe in February. It’s two houses and it sold for $700,000. It needed a lot of work. It was built in 1897,” she says.
The gingerbread houses sit one next to the other, circling a park, an outdoor tabernacle and the United Methodist Church of Martha’s Vineyard. Parking is limited. Elsewhere, on skinny paved streets near the beach, sit gray-shingled beach cottages, and the town also has Cape Cods and farmhouses in rural neighborhoods. Home prices range from about $800,000 to $8.4 million.
Incredible craftsmanship can be seen in this victorian Oak Bluffs home.
A row of fantastical Oak Bluffs homes are found in Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association.
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After school activities and health care services
Locals can walk on a sandy pathway along the Nantucket Sound, where they can look out into the water and smell the fresh ocean air as the waves crash at their feet. They can ride bikes over the bridge that connects Oak Bluffs with Vineyard Haven. They can go to one of many beaches with assertive waves, like Inkwell Beach or Oak Bluffs Town Beach on the Nantucket Sound, or Eastville Beach on Lagoon Pond. Away from the center of town, teenagers practice their tricks at the skate park across from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and hang out after school at the YMCA.
Mass General Brigham Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, the island’s main health care facility, sits within Oak Bluffs. The hospital has an emergency room, an intensive care unit, cardiology services and more. The affiliation with Mass General Brigham has helped the island, says Lucier. The partnership gave Martha’s Vineyard Hospital access to a broader continuum of care, and doctors within the Mass General Brigham health care system can transfer. Lucier says she had cancer and received most of her treatment on-island. She only had to go to Boston for surgeries. “That was so much part of the care, because if you have to get in a car, drive to the boat, take the boat back home, that would have probably did me in,” she says.
Joseph Sylvia State Beach offers miles of coastline for residents of Oak Bluffs.
Catch your dinner from Oak Bluffs Fishing Pier in Oak Bluffs.
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Blue Ribbon high school on Martha's Vineyard
Each Martha’s Vineyard town has a public elementary school. Oak Bluffs Elementary School serves prekindergarten through eighth grade and has a B-rating from Niche. Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School serves the entire island and has a B-plus from Niche. The high school has about 700 students and is a two-time National Blue Ribbon School award winner.
Oak Bluffs Elementary School received an overall B rating from Niche.
Martha's Vineyard Regional High School got a B+ for academics by Niche.
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Ferrying around during season
During season, ferry boats shuttle passengers between Oak Bluffs and Nantucket, Woods Hole and North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The year-round ferry to the island is in nearby Vineyard Haven. Driving to Vineyard Haven takes 10 minutes, the ride to the center of Edgartown is 15 minutes and Martha’s Vineyard Airport is 15 minutes away.
The ferry steams past Dockside Beach in Oak Bluffs
Cape Air makes it easy for Oak Bluffs residents to get on and off the Island.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Oak Bluffs
US
Homicide
3
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
1
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Oak Bluffs Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Oak Bluffs, Marthas Vineyard sell after 88 days on the market compared to the national average of 54 days. The median sale price for homes in Oak Bluffs, Marthas Vineyard over the last 12 months is $1,225,000, up 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Enjoy sweeping ocean views from this beautifully updated East Chop Victorian, complete with a timeless guest cottage. Thoughtfully renovated in 2010, the main residence seamlessly blends historic character with modern comfort. The kitchen and bathrooms have been stylishly updated while preserving the home's original charm and character. The guest cottage, tucked to the rear of the property,
Own a piece of the Vineyard dream with a fully furnished, beautifully updated condo perfectly designed for comfort and vacation living at the Island Inn Country Club in Oak Bluffs. The location is just off Beach Road, a short distance to beaches, downtown Circuit Ave, and a lovely drive along Beach Road to Edgartown Village. The bike path, public transportation, and a popular restaurant with live
Overlooking Nantucket Sound and just steps from the vibrant heart of downtown Oak Bluffs, this distinctive compound blends laid-back West Coast style with classic island charm. The light-filled four-bedroom main house has been thoughtfully updated with modern, year-round comforts. Privately set at the rear, the guest house known as The Nest offers a peaceful retreat with a private deck, outdoor
Katie Donahue & Rachel Serwa GroupSandpiper Realty, Inc.
Oak Bluffs Buildable Lot – Prime Location. This flat 2-bedroom building lot is ideally located just moments from the Hudson Avenue access to scenic Lagoon Pond, with easy access to both Farm Neck Golf Club and downtown Oak Bluffs. Situated in a neighborhood of newly constructed homes, this lot presents an excellent opportunity to become part of a growing community in Oak Bluffs. According to the
Hidden behind a wall of vegetation on Winthrop Avenue this is a little 'oasis' of a piece of land. One bedroom house situated on a 1/3 Acre, 14,810 sq.ft. level lot. One side of the property is lush with vegetation and the opposite side is clear. It is one lot in total and may not be subdivided. The existing house has been lived in year round. Only .6 of a mile to Oak Bluffs Harbor and .5 mile
A rare offering on iconic Ocean Park. This beautifully renovated Victorian cottage sits in the heart of historic Oak Bluffs with unencumbered views of Ocean Park and Vineyard Sound. Completely rebuilt in 2024, the 3-bedroom home blends classic Vineyard charm with modern comforts, featuring a welcoming wraparound porch, a beach-stone wood-burning fireplace, a new kitchen, updated baths, and
Rare Opportunity to Be in a Special Location and Neighborhood! Loved by generations, this quintessential Vineyard cottage has been in the same family since its creation in 1900. Step back in time and enjoy easy cottage living of yesteryear with modern updates including newer windows and electrical. Nestled under mature trees and just .3 mile to Inkwell Beach, join this close-knit neighborhood and
Breathtaking property at the tip of a prominent peninsula on Sengekontacket Pond's western shoreline. Set beautifully at high elevation above the shore, this charming home and guest cottage includes jaw-dropping views of the pond, barrier dunes and Nantucket Sound. Direct from the property take your whaler or other watercraft out into the sound and beyond for endless recreational pursuits. Aside
Tucked away in a serene setting, this beautifully designed custom home offers the ultimate in privacy, comfort, and luxury living. The first floor features a spacious open-concept design, seamlessly blending the dining room, kitchen, wet bar, and living area-perfect for entertaining or relaxing with the family. Home chefs will fall in love with the gourmet kitchen complete with custom cabinetry,
Meadowview Farms -- This home is ideal for those who love to host lively gatherings! Set at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, this spacious Colonial offers over 3,200 sq ft designed for comfortable living and easy entertaining. The home features four bedrooms and 2.5 baths, including a primary suite with walk-in closets and private bath. The main living area flows from a living room with fireplace
Two Historic Oak Bluffs Cottages - Prime Location - Deeded Separately Perched atop a gentle hill, surrounded by lush, established gardens in one of the island's most storied neighborhoods, these two charming 1909 twin cottages offer a rare opportunity to own a piece of local history--just a short distance to the harbor, downtown, and the beloved Winston's takeout. Built at a time when automobiles
Nestled in the heart of the historic Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association, this beautifully updated suite cottage offers the rare opportunity for year-round living in Oak Bluffs’ campground community. Fully renovated in 2023, including kitchen, bath, floors and winterization, the home seamlessly blends classic Vineyard charm with modern comfort — featuring upgraded systems and finishes that
**SUMMER WEEKLY RATE ** INQUIRE FOR LONG TERM OFFSEASON RATE**Discover the perfect summer retreat in this beautifully updated Meadow View Farms home. Nestled on a private hilltop and minutes from beaches, bike paths, Farm Neck Gand Downtown Oak Bluffs, this home offers a serene escape close to the island’s best attractions. 4 spacious bedrooms, first floor primary ensuite, shared secondary floor
Allison Cameron ParryDouglas Elliman Real Estate - Nantucket
Modernized 5 bed, 3 full bath Victorian in the heart of Downtown Oak Bluffs. Steps to restaurants, shopping, harbor, ferries and beaches. Accommodates 10 guests. Easy breezy outdoor living, dining, bluestone patio and BBQ grill. Relax on the covered porch surrounded by a lush flower garden or unwind in the outdoor shower. Updated stone and stainless kitchen. Formal dining for eight. A/C, WIFI and
Allison Cameron ParryDouglas Elliman Real Estate - Nantucket
**SHORT TERM ONLY - WEEKLY RATE ADVERTISED ** Water view Victorian fronting Waban Park, steps to Inkwell Beach. Newly restored 9-bed, 6+ bath Main and Guest House houses 18 guests. Internet, A/C and cable TV. Coastal chic interior with all new furnishings. Large open floor plan, ample gathering and relaxation spaces. Dining for 10, Wet Bar, gourmet kitchen, gas range, stainless appliances and
Allison Cameron ParryDouglas Elliman Real Estate - Nantucket
THIS PROPERTY IS A WEEKLY RENTAL PROPERTY!! Newly renovated, Great for Family Gatherings, Corporate Retreats, Central Air & Heat, very close to Circuit Ave and Beach, 5 Bedrooms, 3 full baths, galley kitchen, new appliances, dining room, family room, Flat Screen TV, FREE Wifi, washer & dryer, bay window breakfast nook, Oak and Pine wood flooring, outdoor shower, wrap around porch, blue stone
THIS IS A WEEKLY SUMMER RENTAL ONLY.THE WEEKLY PRICE IN AUGUST IS $18,000. PER WEEK.SEE WEB SITE FOR ADDITIONAL WEEKLY PRICING. This is a beautiful waterfront home with a pool on the Lagoon. Enter through the impressive foyer with water views over the pool and lawn. There is a large living room with cathedral ceilings and dining area on the main level. There is a gourmet kitchen with eat-in
THIS IS A WEEKLY SUMMER RENTAL ONLY.SEE WEB SITE FOR WEEKLY PRICING. Welcome to "Shangri-la" A beautiful townhouse condominium end unit with magnificent views. Located midway between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. You can enjoy the beautiful pool or one of the close local beaches. You will want to sit and enjoy the water views on the deck. The townhouse has a great living room with views and bedrooms
THIS IS A WEEKLY SUMMER RENTAL ONLY.THE WEEKLY PRICE IN AUGUST IS $6,500. PER WEEK.SEE WEB SITE FOR ADDITIONAL WEEKLY PRICING. Wonderful, fully redecorated Gingerbread house on East Chop, just minutes from the excitement of Oak Bluffs. There are three bedrooms and two full baths. The interior is clean and crisp, with beach cottage décor and beautiful bamboo floors. Entertainment options include
THIS IS A WEEKLY SUMMER RENTAL ONLY.SEE WEB SITE FOR WEEKLY PRICING. Feel the ocean breezes from this classic waterfront home. There are four bedrooms, an open living room and dining room that open up to large deck overlooking beautiful views across the Lagoon. Walking path to private sandy beach. BOAT MOORING INCLUDED.
THIS IS A WEEKLY SUMMER RENTAL ONLY. SEE WEB SITE FOR WEEKLY PRICING. This immaculate home is located in a quiet neighborhood that is just a bike ride's distance from several lovely beaches as well as the center of Oak Bluffs. The home offers open living spaces, generously proportioned sunny bedrooms and is well equipped.
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