Compare towns
Shelburne vs Sutton vs Upton vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shelburne has the most renters (32.2% rent).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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.
| Measure | Shelburne | Sutton | Upton | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,567 |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±7.3 43% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% 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%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,000±$4k 20% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $405,400±$32k 28% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$305,500±$52kLowest 46% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$105 39% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,023±$126 42% below MA |
| Sutton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,595 23% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,351Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.