What stands out worked out from the figures below

Housatonic has the most kids (19% under 18).

Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.5%).

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	Housatonic	Shelburne
People
Population	1,113Lowest	1,567Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±9.1Lowest 30% above MA	57±7.3Highest 43% above MA
	Shelburne and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±8.9Highest MA: 19.4%	12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Housatonic and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.3%±10.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Shelburne and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	51.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±3.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Shelburne and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	—	$83,000±$4k 20% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$437,000±$47kHighest 22% below MA	$405,400±$32kLowest 28% below MA
	Housatonic and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,491±$462Highest 15% below MA	$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA
	Housatonic and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,920Highest 18% below MA	$4,595Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±33.2Highest MA: 51.8%	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Housatonic and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.8%Highest MA: 10%	10.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 26 yrs older than MA	1938 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 24% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	26%±12.7Highest MA: 18.6%	17.7%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Housatonic and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Mohawk Trail
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.