What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).

Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Sunderland
People
Population	1,608Lowest	3,641Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56±6.4Highest 40% above MA	35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	13.7%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Leverett and Sunderland 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%	16.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	62.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,688±$18kHighest about the MA average	$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$435,500±$35kLowest 23% below MA	$458,100±$52kHighest 19% below MA
	Sunderland and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,389±$135Lowest 21% below MA	$1,672±$151Highest 5% below MA
	Sunderland and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,779Highest 13% above MA	$5,611Lowest 6% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8%	72.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Leverett and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Lowest MA: 10%	14.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	42%Lowest 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 minHighest 9% below MA	17 minLowest 41% below MA
Work from home	28.5%±5Highest MA: 18.6%	16.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#220 of 282 in MA
School district	Leverett	Sunderland
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.