Compare towns
Chatham vs Worcester 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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Shelburne has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Worcester | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
831Highest |
530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% 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% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Chatham 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$93,125±$18kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Worcester 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$280,200±$45k 16% below U.S. |
| Chatham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,130±$62Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Shelburne and Worcester 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. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,801 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
10%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chatham and Worcester 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest 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.