Compare towns
Shelburne vs Wareham 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).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Wareham | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,567 |
23,302Highest |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±7.3 43% above MA |
52.1±3.1Lowest 30% 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% |
13.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wareham 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% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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 |
$90,383±$11kHighest 13% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Wareham and Shelburne 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$305,500±$52kLowest 46% below MA |
| Wareham and Shelburne 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 |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,595Highest 23% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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 | — | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Wareham | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.