What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).

Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.5%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashfield	Shelburne
People
Population	1,893Highest	1,567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA	57±7.3Lowest 43% above MA
	Ashfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	12.5%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Shelburne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Shelburne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest MA: 47.3%	51.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Shelburne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA	$83,000±$4kHighest 20% below MA
	Shelburne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA	$405,400±$32kHighest 28% below MA
	Shelburne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$200Highest 38% below MA	$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA
	Ashfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,197Highest 13% below MA	$4,595Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Lowest MA: 10%	10.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	24%±6Highest MA: 18.6%	17.7%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.