What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stockbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Housatonic has the most kids (19% 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	Stockbridge	Housatonic
People
Population	2,056Highest	1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA	51.8±9.1Lowest 30% above MA
	Stockbridge and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	19%±8.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Housatonic and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9%	28.3%±10.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%	2%±3.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stockbridge and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,250±$67k 41% above MA	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$600,000±$99kHighest 7% above MA	$437,000±$47kLowest 22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$858±$375Lowest 51% below MA	$1,491±$462Highest 15% below MA
	Housatonic and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,652Lowest 22% below MA	$4,920Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8%	51.7%±33.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Stockbridge and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest MA: 10%	16.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	22 minHighest 24% below MA
Work from home	52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6%	26%±12.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stockbridge and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.