Compare towns
Shelburne vs Ware 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 expensive homes ($405k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Charlemont has the most homeowners (78.3%).
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 | Ware | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,567 |
10,048Highest |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±7.3 43% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Shelburne 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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±$4kHighest 20% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Shelburne and Ware 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$105Highest 39% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Shelburne and Ware 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Charlemont 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Shelburne and Charlemont 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Ware | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.