Private beach keys on Martha's Vineyard, a symbol of exclusivity on the affluent Massachusetts island, are commanding prices upwards of $400,000. These keys provide access to private sections of the island's coastline, a commodity in high demand among those seeking privacy and convenience.
The price for these keys has more than doubled in the last 20 years, reflecting a scarcity driven by stagnant supply and soaring demand. In 2003, a key to Quansoo Beach in Chilmark cost approximately $200,000, according to Abby Rabinovitz of Tea Lane Associates. Last year, a key for the same beach sold for $475,000, while a key for Hancock Beach fetched $650,000.
Alexis Holden of Tea Lane Associates noted that "more demand than supply. Prices reflect that," adding that two of her clients have been waiting for over a year for a key. The limited availability is partly due to many keys remaining within families for generations. Massachusetts law permits private beaches, and Martha's Vineyard has a tradition of restricting access to its pristine shorelines, with over two dozen public and private beaches along its 124 miles of coast.
Keys became customary after families owning large tracts of land divided their properties. The primary appeal is the privacy and seclusion offered. Lisa Herrick, who inherited a key in Aquinnah, described the access as "magical" and a "privileged" experience that "doesn't feel like a club."
The rising cost of these keys is proportionate to increasing property values in the area, leading to frustration among some locals who feel priced out. Tyler Smith, who listed a portion of his 46-acre Chilmark property for $16 million, indicated that the included beach key was valued at $450,000 to $475,000. Visitors like Mike Peters, who rents on the island annually, expressed the sentiment that "the common people, you just visit and go home. You can't own a piece of it."
Sales of individual keys are infrequent, with around 40 beach lots sold since 2019. When included in property sales, these keys can significantly increase a property's value. Filmmaker David Heilbroner commented that with some homes on the island valued at $20 million, a $600,000 beach key becomes a "rounding error," highlighting the growing disparity in access.
Heilbroner, who inherited a key to Hancock Beach, serves as a former president of the Hancock Beach Association, an organization focused on preserving the beach. He acknowledged the reality of coastal erosion and the need for protection. Some beach associations have policies preventing keys from being sold, a tradition some owners, like Herrick, intend to uphold, passing them down to their children.
While some view the exclusivity as elitist, others like Julie Flanders, whose family has held a key to Goff Beach in Aquinnah for 13 generations, describe it as "management of traffic flow." However, Flanders also acknowledged that the escalating prices have shifted the demographic, changing the perception from a "lifestyle thing" for long-time island families to an exclusive commodity.
Martha's Vineyard's roughly 124 miles of shoreline offers more than two dozen public and private beaches, with beach towns exclusively for residents. Keys for the beach at Chilmark have fetched up to $475,000 and climbing.
Many keys remain in families for generations, contributing to the sense of exclusivity. 
