Compare towns
Chatham vs Middlesex vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most renters (17.2% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Shelburne has the most affordable homes ($280k median).
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.
| Measure | Chatham | Middlesex | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
1,943Highest |
530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.3±11Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$93,125±$18k 15% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$280,200±$45kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,130±$62Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,801 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
10%±70.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chatham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.