What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Charlemont has the most affordable homes ($306k median).

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	Charlemont
People
Population	1,567Highest	1,118Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	57±7.3Lowest 43% above MA	59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA
	Charlemont 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%	7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Shelburne and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Charlemont and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	29%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Shelburne and Charlemont 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	$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$405,400±$32kHighest 28% below MA	$305,500±$52kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,080±$105Highest 39% below MA	$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA
	Shelburne and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,595Highest 23% below MA	$4,351Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Charlemont and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest MA: 10%	14.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	78.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	17.7%±6Highest MA: 18.6%	16.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Shelburne and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Hawlemont
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.