What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).

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

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	Charlemont	Buckland
People
Population	1,118Lowest	2,036Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-4.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA	49.5±5.4Lowest 24% 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	7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	17.2%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9%	26.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest MA: 47.3%	43.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	2.6%±1.2Highest 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	$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA	$82,877±$6kHighest 20% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$305,500±$52kLowest 46% below MA	$321,400±$25kHighest 43% 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	$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA	$1,111±$213Highest 37% 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	$4,351Lowest 27% below MA	$4,761Highest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.1%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	58%±20.9Highest 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	14.3%Highest MA: 10%	13%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	16.5%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	14.1%±5.6Lowest 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	Hawlemont	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	None in town	Mohawk Trail Regional School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	6 photos →

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.