What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somerset has the oldest population (median age 47).

Charlton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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	Somerset	Charlton
People
Population	18,298Highest	13,435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47±2.2Highest 18% above MA	43±4Lowest 8% above MA
	Somerset and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6% MA: 47.3%	37.6% MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,677±$6kLowest 8% above MA	$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA
	Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA	$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA
	Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA
	Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,977Highest 17% below MA	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8%	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Somerset and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Highest MA: 10%	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 8% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	13%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Charlton and Somerset 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	#132 of 282 in MA	#133 of 282 in MA
School district	Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric
High school in town	Somerset Berkley Regional High School	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	9.7Lowest
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.