What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).

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	Shelburne	Ashfield
People
Population	1,567Lowest	1,893Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	57±7.3Lowest 43% above MA	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA
	Ashfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Shelburne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	33.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Shelburne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Shelburne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,000±$4kHighest 20% below MA	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA
	Shelburne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$405,400±$32kHighest 28% below MA	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA
	Shelburne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA	$1,100±$200Highest 38% below MA
	Ashfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,595Lowest 23% below MA	$5,197Highest 13% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest MA: 10%	9.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	17.7%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%	24%±6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ashfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Mohawk Trail
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.