What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Somerset has the oldest population (median age 47).

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	Charlton	Somerset
People
Population	13,435Lowest	18,298Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±4Lowest 8% above MA	47±2.2Highest 18% above MA
	Somerset and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6% MA: 47.3%	37.6% MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA	$112,677±$6kLowest 8% above MA
	Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA	$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA
	Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA	$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA
	Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA	$4,977Highest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Somerset and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%	4.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	31 minLowest 8% above MA
Work from home	13%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#133 of 282 in MA	#132 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric	Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset
High school in town	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School	Somerset Berkley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	11.6Highest
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.