What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williamsburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Shutesbury has the highest household income ($123k).

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	Williamsburg	Shutesbury
People
Population	2,694Highest	1,910Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50±2.4Lowest 25% above MA	50.2±4.5Highest 26% above MA
	Shutesbury and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	14.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Williamsburg and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.2%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Shutesbury and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Williamsburg and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average	$123,333±$12kHighest 19% above MA
	Shutesbury and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$403,100±$37kHighest 28% below MA	$376,100±$21kLowest 33% below MA
	Williamsburg and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA	$1,721±$111Highest about the MA average
	Shutesbury and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,761Lowest 4% below MA	$6,642Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61%±28Highest MA: 51.8%	40%±17Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Williamsburg and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%	3.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 13% below MA	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	26.5%±6.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.2%±7.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Shutesbury and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Williamsburg	Shutesbury
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.