What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlemont has the most affordable homes ($306k median).

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	Charlemont	Shelburne
People
Population	1,118Lowest	1,567Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA	57±7.3Lowest 43% above MA
	Charlemont and Shelburne 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%	12.5%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Shelburne and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9%	38.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Charlemont and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Shelburne 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	$83,000±$4kHighest 20% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$305,500±$52kLowest 46% below MA	$405,400±$32kHighest 28% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA	$1,080±$105Highest 39% below MA
	Shelburne 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	$4,595Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8%	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Charlemont and Shelburne 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%	10.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	16.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.7%±6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Shelburne and Charlemont 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	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.