What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leverett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

Shutesbury has the highest household income ($123k).

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	Leverett	Shutesbury
People
Population	1,608Lowest	1,910Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56±6.4Highest 40% above MA	50.2±4.5Lowest 26% above MA
	Leverett and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	14.2%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Shutesbury and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%	25.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Shutesbury and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,688±$18kLowest about the MA average	$123,333±$12kHighest 19% above MA
	Shutesbury and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$435,500±$35kHighest 23% below MA	$376,100±$21kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,389±$135Lowest 21% below MA	$1,721±$111Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,779Highest 13% above MA	$6,642Lowest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8%	40%±17Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	10%Highest MA: 10%	3.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	28.5%±5Highest MA: 18.6%	27.2%±7.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Leverett and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Leverett	Shutesbury
High school in town	None 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.