Real Estate and Homes for Sale in Chappaquiddick (Chappy), MA
Find stunning homes for sale on Chappaquiddick, Martha’s Vineyard. Enjoy serene island living in an unforgettable home with Portfolio Properties.
Properties for sale in Chappaquiddick (Chappy)
Chappaquiddick: a quiet escape with character.
Just a quick ferry ride, barely more than 500 feet, from Edgartown, Chappaquiddick Island delivers a completely different pace: low-key, quiet, real. Locals call it “Chappy,” and they are not kidding when they describe it as feeling worlds apart from the more polished charm of Martha’s Vineyard proper.
Once you arrive, you will find no glamour, no crowded streets, no chains, just nature, space, and the kind of grounding only stillness brings. Chappy is a place for slowing down, for breathing, not ticking off checkboxes. Homes here are residential, intentional, and built for a slower rhythm than anywhere else on the island.
How do you get to Chappaquiddick?
To reach Chappy, you board the small Chappy On-Time Ferry in Edgartown. It carries just a few cars, bikes, and foot passengers, but the crossing is quick, smooth, and intentional. Once you step off, you feel immediately separated from the busy pace of the Vineyard. Getting around the island is best done by bike. The flat terrain, limited car access, and low traffic make it easy to explore without stress.
What makes Chappaquiddick so peaceful?
The island is defined by its open spaces and natural beauty. Start at Mytoi Japanese Garden, a 14-acre landscape tucked into pine forest with bridges, ponds, and shaded trails. For beach time, East Beach (Leland Beach) delivers soft sand, gentle surf, and views that stretch toward Nantucket Sound. At Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, you will find seven miles of barrier beach, marshes, and tidal creeks. The historic Cape Poge Lighthouse has stood here since 1893. If you want a wilder stretch, Wasque Beach is raw and dramatic, with pristine sand, birdlife, and unspoiled views. For walking, the Cross-Chappy Trail runs more than four miles across the island.
What’s the story and character of Chappy?
Chappaquiddick has a complex history. Some remember it for the 1969 Kennedy incident, but that is a single chapter in a much longer story. Today, it represents solitude, intention, and simplicity. Fewer than 300 residents live here year-round, and amenities are minimal: there are no hotels or restaurants, just a single seasonal general store. That makes visiting feel like a choice, not a convenience.
Is Chappaquiddick the right fit?
Chappy is not for everyone. It is not about nightlife, shopping, or Wi-Fi. It is for those who want stillness, nature, and time away from distractions. It is for sunrise walks, ospreys lifting off the marsh, picnics on the beach, and evenings when the sky glows brighter than your phone screen. If you are looking for authenticity, solitude, and a chance to reconnect with the outdoors, this is the right spot. It is more retreat than resort. Browse the current Chappaquiddick listings above and reach out for a private showing. Portfolio Properties has been the resident expert on this island for years.
Four reasons people cross the harbor and stay for a lifetime.
A three-car barge, a Japanese garden in the pines, a lighthouse on a barrier beach, and one of New England’s wildest stretches of sand. Here is what life on Chappy actually looks like.
A 500-foot crossing that changes the whole day.
The Chappy On-Time Ferry is a small barge that carries three cars, plus bikes and foot passengers, across Edgartown Harbor in about a minute. It is the only way on or off the island. The crossing is short, but it functions as a hard line between busy Edgartown and the quiet of Chappy. Most residents and visitors leave the car behind and use bikes once they are across.
- What’s nearby
- Edgartown Harbor
- Memorial Wharf
- Chappy Point landing
Seven miles of barrier beach and a lighthouse that has stood since 1893.
The Trustees of Reservations protect 516 acres at the northern tip of Chappy: barrier beaches, marshes, tidal creeks, and Cape Poge Lighthouse itself, guiding ships into Edgartown Harbor since 1893. Nesting shorebirds, migrating wildlife, and one of the best views on the island are all on offer. Over-sand vehicle access is available with a permit and a real 4x4.
- What’s nearby
- Cape Poge Lighthouse
- Cape Poge Bay
- Dike Bridge
- The Gut
A 14-acre garden tucked into the pines.
Mytoi is the surprise of Chappy: a Japanese-style garden of bridges, ponds, and shaded trails set inside a pitch-pine forest a short ride from the ferry. It is open year-round, free to enter, and quietly maintained by the Trustees. Most days you have the place largely to yourself, which is the entire point.
- What’s nearby
- Mytoi Garden
- Dike Road
- Poucha Pond
Raw, dramatic, and ranked among New England’s best.
Wasque sits at the southeast point of Chappy, where the currents meet and the surfcasting is legendary. The beach is pristine, the surf is real, and the views run unbroken. East Beach (Leland Beach) runs north from here as a long barrier strand, gentler and good for swimming. Both are managed by the Trustees and reached on foot, by bike, or with an over-sand permit.
- What’s nearby
- Wasque Reservation
- East Beach & Leland Beach
- Wasque Point
- Norton Point
Chappaquiddick & Edgartown at a glance.
Median Edgartown sale price, up roughly 16% year-over-year. Chappaquiddick is part of Edgartown and trades in this market. Inventory on the island itself is famously thin: a handful of homes change hands in a typical year. Current Chappy listings range from about $650,000 to $9.99 million, with waterfront and Cape Poge proximity commanding clear premiums.
What the market’s doing
What the island looks like
Questions buyers and visitors ask about Chappy.
Answers our team gives most often when people are exploring this small island off the southeast tip of Edgartown.
Where is Chappaquiddick?
Chappaquiddick (locally called Chappy) is a small island off the southeast tip of Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. It sits between Edgartown Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean, separated from the main island by a narrow channel just over 500 feet wide. The island is reached only by the Chappy On-Time Ferry.
Is Chappaquiddick part of Edgartown?
Yes. Chappaquiddick is administratively part of the Town of Edgartown. Residents vote in Edgartown, pay Edgartown property taxes, and use Edgartown town services. Real estate sales on Chappy are recorded as Edgartown transactions, which is why public market data for the island is reported under Edgartown.
How do you get to Chappy?
The only public way on or off Chappy is the Chappy On-Time Ferry, a small barge that runs from Memorial Wharf in downtown Edgartown to Chappy Point. The crossing takes about one minute and carries three cars at a time, plus bikes and foot passengers. The ferry runs year-round, with seasonal schedules.
How much does the Chappy Ferry cost?
As of August 2025, round-trip fares on the Chappy On-Time Ferry are $17.00 for a car and driver (vehicles up to 22 feet with a maximum of four tires), $5.00 per passenger, and $8.00 for a bike and rider. Discounted ticket books are available for frequent riders. Verify the current rate at chappyferry.com before you cross.
What is Mytoi Garden?
Mytoi is a 14-acre Japanese-style garden tucked into a pitch-pine forest on Chappaquiddick, managed by The Trustees of Reservations. It features arched bridges, ponds, shaded trails, and a quiet wooded landscape that feels worlds away from a beach island. It is open year-round, free to enter, and rarely crowded.
Can you drive on Chappy?
Yes. You can bring a car across on the Chappy On-Time Ferry, and Chappy's interior roads are passable in any vehicle. However, the over-sand sections at Cape Poge and Wasque require a four-wheel-drive vehicle and a permit from The Trustees of Reservations. Most visitors leave the car in Edgartown and explore Chappy by bike.
Are Chappy's beaches public?
Yes, much of Chappy's coastline is publicly accessible through The Trustees of Reservations. Wasque Beach, East Beach, and Leland Beach are all open to the public, typically with a parking or over-sand vehicle fee in season. Trustees members and Edgartown residents have additional access privileges. Some private homes also have private beach frontage.
What is the population of Chappy?
Approximately 270 people live on Chappaquiddick year-round, though the population swells significantly in summer with seasonal residents and visitors. Chappy's population is counted within the Town of Edgartown, which has a total year-round population of about 5,212 (U.S. Census 2024 estimate).
What is the median home price on Chappy?
Chappy is part of Edgartown for sale-data purposes, and Edgartown's median sale price has been around $2.8 million over the last 12 months. Inventory on Chappy itself is very thin, so listings are tracked individually rather than as a stable median. Current active Chappy listings range from roughly $650,000 to $9.99 million depending on water access, lot size, and proximity to Cape Poge.
Is Chappy a good investment for a second home?
Chappy offers a rare combination on Martha's Vineyard: real privacy, a tiny year-round community, and large adjacent conservation land that limits future development. Long-term appreciation has tracked the broader Edgartown market. Buyers should plan carefully around ferry logistics, over-sand access for certain properties, and waterfront due diligence (FEMA flood zones, septic, coastal erosion). Our Waterfront Due Diligence guide, linked below, covers the specifics.
Reading for the Chappy curious.
What’s Happening in Edgartown’s Real Estate Market Right Now
Chappy is part of Edgartown for sale-data and tax purposes. This is the broader market context every Chappy buyer should read first.
Read articleBest Beaches to Explore on Martha’s Vineyard in the Off-Season
Wasque, East Beach, and the Trustees properties on Chappy are at their best when the crowds clear. A field guide to where the island goes quiet.
Read articleWaterfront Due Diligence on Martha’s Vineyard
If you are seriously considering a Chappy waterfront purchase, read this first. A practical checklist covering FEMA, flood zones, septic, and coastal access rights.
Read articleThinking about Chappaquiddick?
Portfolio Properties has been the resident expert on Chappy, Edgartown, and the rest of Martha’s Vineyard for years. We can walk you through what is on the market, what just sold, and what is coming up off-market. We are happy to meet you at the Chappy Point landing for a tour any time.