What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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	Buckland	Shelburne
People
Population	2,036Highest	1,567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±5.4Lowest 24% above MA	57±7.3Highest 43% above MA
	Shelburne 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%	12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Buckland and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Shelburne and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,877±$6kLowest 20% below MA	$83,000±$4kHighest 20% below MA
	Shelburne and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA	$405,400±$32kHighest 28% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,111±$213Highest 37% below MA	$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA
	Buckland and Shelburne 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	$4,595Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8%	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Buckland and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest MA: 10%	10.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	14.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.7%±6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Shelburne and Buckland 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	Mohawk Trail Regional School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
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.