What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hawley has the most kids (17.7% under 18).

Charlemont has the most renters (21.7% rent).

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	Hawley	Charlemont
People
Population	277Lowest	1,118Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-6.4% MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.8±7.2Lowest 42% above MA	59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA
	Charlemont and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±10Highest MA: 19.4%	7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hawley and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Charlemont and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	29%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±5.5Highest MA: 7.9%	1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hawley and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$26kHighest 16% below MA	$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA
	Hawley and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,600±$38kHighest 45% below MA	$305,500±$52kLowest 46% below MA
	Hawley and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,023±$126 42% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,097Lowest 32% below MA	$4,351Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Charlemont and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%	14.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest MA: 62.5%	78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	19.3%±12.6Highest MA: 18.6%	16.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hawley and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Hawlemont
High school 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.