What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shutesbury has the most affordable homes ($376k median).

Pelham has the most kids (21% under 18).

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	Shutesbury	Pelham
People
Population	1,910Highest	1,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.2±4.5Highest 26% above MA	45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA
	Shutesbury and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pelham and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pelham and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70%Highest MA: 47.3%	64.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±3Highest MA: 7.9%	2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Shutesbury and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,333±$12kHighest 19% above MA	$113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA
	Shutesbury and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,100±$21kLowest 33% below MA	$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,721±$111Highest about the MA average	$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA
	Shutesbury and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,642Lowest 11% above MA	$7,472Highest 25% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±17Lowest MA: 51.8%	42.7%±35.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pelham and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Lowest MA: 10%	10.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 12% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	27.2%±7.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Pelham and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Shutesbury	Pelham
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.