Since 1983, Thomas Tate has overseen the construction of custom homes on Martha’s Vineyard as president and owner of Tate Builders Inc. Over the course of his career, Tom Tate has worked on projects ranging from luxury homes inhabited by noted celebrities to small cottage residences for the island’s summer residents. Before moving to Martha’s Vineyard, there are a few things individuals should be aware of. First and foremost, Martha’s Vineyard is not a town, but an island. The island, though just 25 miles long and nine miles wide, is comprised of six unique towns.

 

Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown are three of the more populous areas of the island, while West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah are better known for their beautiful landscapes and picturesque farms. People thinking of moving there should also understand the area’s peculiar population statistics. Only about 15,000 individuals call the island home all year long, but this number swells to more than 115,000 during the summer. Finally, those who plan on commuting from the island to the mainland may want to reconsider their strategy. There is no land bridge or tunnel connecting Martha’s Vineyard to Cape Cod, and the most common method of reaching the island is by ferry, though the island can also be reached by air.