Compare towns
Chatham vs Shelburne vs Stow
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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Shelburne has the highest household income ($93k).
Stow has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Shelburne | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
530 |
535Highest |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
50.3±11 29% above U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Stow and Shelburne 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% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$93,125±$18kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Shelburne and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$280,200±$45kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$326,400±$42k about the U.S. average |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,130±$62 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$3,801Highest 22% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
10%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chatham and Stow 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% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.