What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buckland has the most kids (17.2% under 18).

Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).

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	Buckland	Charlemont
People
Population	2,036Highest	1,118Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±5.4Lowest 24% above MA	59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA
	Charlemont and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	29%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Buckland and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,877±$6kHighest 20% below MA	$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$321,400±$25kHighest 43% below MA	$305,500±$52kLowest 46% below MA
	Buckland and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,111±$213Highest 37% below MA	$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA
	Buckland and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,761Highest 21% below MA	$4,351Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8%	56.1%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Buckland and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Lowest MA: 10%	14.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	78.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	14.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.5%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Charlemont and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Hawlemont
High school in town	Mohawk Trail Regional School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.