What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stockbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	Stockbridge
People
Population	1,113Lowest	2,056Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±9.1Lowest 30% above MA	63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA
	Stockbridge 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%	8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Housatonic and Stockbridge 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%	47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±3.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stockbridge and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	—	$146,250±$67k 41% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$437,000±$47kLowest 22% below MA	$600,000±$99kHighest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,491±$462Highest 15% below MA	$858±$375Lowest 51% below MA
	Housatonic and Stockbridge 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	$4,652Lowest 22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±33.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8%
	Stockbridge and Housatonic 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%	7.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 24% below MA	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	26%±12.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Stockbridge and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.