snapshot: Whose older than who? Median ages
By Matt Carroll, Globe Staff | March 28
The US Census tracks median age. The town's with the oldest ages in Massachusetts tended to be in the corners of the state -- western Mass., Cape Cod, and the North Shore. The youngest community was Amherst -- no surprise, given that it's the home of UMass. The data is from the US Census's American Community Survey for 2011, which covers five years.
| Community | Median_age | Rank |
| ABINGTON | 39.3 | 284 |
| ACTON | 40.8 | 238 |
| ACUSHNET | 41.6 | 213 |
| ADAMS | 41.8 | 199 |
| AGAWAM | 43.9 | 114 |
| ALFORD | 56.4 | 8 |
| AMESBURY | 40.5 | 250 |
| AMHERST | 21.3 | 351 |
| ANDOVER | 43.1 | 144 |
| AQUINNAH | 26.3 | 350 |
| ARLINGTON | 41.7 | 210 |
| ASHBURNHAM | 38.9 | 292 |
| ASHBY | 43.1 | 144 |
| ASHFIELD | 46.2 | 71 |
| ASHLAND | 40.9 | 236 |
| ATHOL | 38.2 | 311 |
| ATTLEBORO | 38.4 | 305 |
| AUBURN | 44.1 | 111 |
| AVON | 43.6 | 126 |
| AYER | 40.4 | 256 |
| BARNSTABLE | 47 | 54 |
| BARRE | 42.9 | 155 |
| BECKET | 49.3 | 31 |
| BEDFORD | 43.4 | 133 |
| BELCHERTOWN | 40.5 | 250 |
| BELLINGHAM | 38.4 | 305 |
| BELMONT | 41.5 | 217 |
| BERKLEY | 38 | 314 |
| BERLIN | 46.2 | 71 |
| BERNARDSTON | 45.5 | 87 |
| BEVERLY | 40.3 | 263 |
| BILLERICA | 38.7 | 298 |
| BLACKSTONE | 41.6 | 213 |
| BLANDFORD | 46.7 | 62 |
| BOLTON | 42.9 | 155 |
| BOSTON | 30.8 | 346 |
| BOURNE | 42.9 | 155 |
| BOXBOROUGH | 42.1 | 192 |
| BOXFORD | 44.4 | 99 |
| BOYLSTON | 44.2 | 108 |
| BRAINTREE | 40.5 | 250 |
| BREWSTER | 53.6 | 11 |
| BRIDGEWATER | 37 | 323 |
| BRIMFIELD | 41.8 | 199 |
| BROCKTON | 35.2 | 336 |
| BROOKFIELD | 43.9 | 114 |
| BROOKLINE | 35.7 | 334 |
| BUCKLAND | 41.2 | 225 |
| BURLINGTON | 40.8 | 238 |
| CAMBRIDGE | 31.2 | 344 |
| CANTON | 41 | 230 |
| CARLISLE | 44.4 | 99 |
| CARVER | 42.4 | 176 |
| CHARLEMONT | 47 | 54 |
| CHARLTON | 39.5 | 279 |
| CHATHAM | 56.9 | 5 |
| CHELMSFORD | 43.3 | 136 |
| CHELSEA | 32.2 | 342 |
| CHESHIRE | 46.9 | 57 |
| CHESTER | 46.8 | 60 |
| CHESTERFIELD | 49 | 35 |
| CHICOPEE | 40.2 | 265 |
| CHILMARK | 45.8 | 80 |
| CLARKSBURG | 46.1 | 74 |
| CLINTON | 38.4 | 305 |
| COHASSET | 43.1 | 144 |
| COLRAIN | 44.4 | 99 |
| Community | Median_age | Rank |
| CONCORD | 46.5 | 65 |
| CONWAY | 46.5 | 65 |
| CUMMINGTON | 43.7 | 122 |
| DALTON | 46.1 | 74 |
| DANVERS | 43.7 | 122 |
| DARTMOUTH | 43.2 | 140 |
| DEDHAM | 43 | 150 |
| DEERFIELD | 45.3 | 90 |
| DENNIS | 52.5 | 15 |
| DIGHTON | 42.6 | 171 |
| DOUGLAS | 39.3 | 284 |
| DOVER | 43.5 | 129 |
| DRACUT | 40.2 | 265 |
| DUDLEY | 35.8 | 333 |
| DUNSTABLE | 40.8 | 238 |
| DUXBURY | 43.9 | 114 |
| EAST BRIDGEWATER | 41.8 | 199 |
| EAST BROOKFIELD | 41.1 | 229 |
| EASTHAM | 56.6 | 7 |
| EASTHAMPTON | 42.8 | 163 |
| EAST LONGMEADOW | 43.4 | 133 |
| EASTON | 37.9 | 316 |
| EDGARTOWN | 43.5 | 129 |
| EGREMONT | 56.4 | 8 |
| ERVING | 39.6 | 276 |
| ESSEX | 47.3 | 51 |
| EVERETT | 35.6 | 335 |
| FAIRHAVEN | 44.3 | 106 |
| FALL RIVER | 38 | 314 |
| FALMOUTH | 50.8 | 22 |
| FITCHBURG | 34.3 | 338 |
| FLORIDA | 42.7 | 168 |
| FOXBOROUGH | 40.6 | 246 |
| FRAMINGHAM | 37.5 | 319 |
| FRANKLIN | 37 | 323 |
| FREETOWN | 42.3 | 180 |
| GARDNER | 39.2 | 286 |
| GEORGETOWN | 40.6 | 246 |
| GILL | 49.5 | 29 |
| GLOUCESTER | 47.3 | 51 |
| GOSHEN | 43.8 | 120 |
| GOSNOLD | 60.3 | 2 |
| GRAFTON | 35.9 | 332 |
| GRANBY | 44.2 | 108 |
| GRANVILLE | 46.7 | 62 |
| GREAT BARRINGTON | 45.8 | 80 |
| GREENFIELD | 42.3 | 180 |
| GROTON | 42.2 | 190 |
| GROVELAND | 43.4 | 133 |
| HADLEY | 46.1 | 74 |
| HALIFAX | 43.7 | 122 |
| HAMILTON | 37.4 | 320 |
| HAMPDEN | 48.1 | 44 |
| HANCOCK | 41 | 230 |
| HANOVER | 40.2 | 265 |
| HANSON | 40.5 | 250 |
| HARDWICK | 45.9 | 79 |
| HARVARD | 44.7 | 94 |
| HARWICH | 50.8 | 22 |
| HATFIELD | 48.2 | 42 |
| HAVERHILL | 38.1 | 313 |
| HAWLEY | 48.6 | 38 |
| HEATH | 51.1 | 20 |
| HINGHAM | 43 | 150 |
| HINSDALE | 46.3 | 69 |
| HOLBROOK | 41.8 | 199 |
| HOLDEN | 41.4 | 221 |
| HOLLAND | 42.4 | 176 |
| HOLLISTON | 43.9 | 114 |
| HOLYOKE | 36.6 | 328 |
| HOPEDALE | 42 | 194 |
| HOPKINTON | 39.8 | 273 |
| HUBBARDSTON | 42.4 | 176 |
| HUDSON | 41 | 230 |
| HULL | 46.5 | 65 |
| HUNTINGTON | 42.3 | 180 |
| IPSWICH | 45.4 | 88 |
| KINGSTON | 42.3 | 180 |
| LAKEVILLE | 41.8 | 199 |
| LANCASTER | 38.7 | 298 |
| LANESBOROUGH | 42.3 | 180 |
| LAWRENCE | 30.9 | 345 |
| LEE | 43.3 | 136 |
| LEICESTER | 39.7 | 274 |
| LENOX | 48.4 | 41 |
| LEOMINSTER | 40 | 269 |
| LEVERETT | 47.9 | 45 |
| LEXINGTON | 45.8 | 80 |
| LEYDEN | 48.2 | 42 |
| LINCOLN | 37.4 | 320 |
| LITTLETON | 43.3 | 136 |
| LONGMEADOW | 43.9 | 114 |
| LOWELL | 33.1 | 341 |
| LUDLOW | 42.7 | 168 |
| LUNENBURG | 42 | 194 |
| LYNN | 35 | 337 |
| LYNNFIELD | 43.1 | 144 |
| MALDEN | 36.4 | 331 |
| MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA | 45.8 | 80 |
| MANSFIELD | 36.6 | 328 |
| MARBLEHEAD | 44.4 | 99 |
| MARION | 46.2 | 71 |
| MARLBOROUGH | 39.1 | 288 |
| MARSHFIELD | 41.5 | 217 |
| MASHPEE | 46.7 | 62 |
| MATTAPOISETT | 47.4 | 50 |
| MAYNARD | 41.9 | 197 |
| MEDFIELD | 41.6 | 213 |
| MEDFORD | 36.7 | 327 |
| MEDWAY | 41 | 230 |
| MELROSE | 41 | 230 |
| MENDON | 42.1 | 192 |
| MERRIMAC | 42.6 | 171 |
| METHUEN | 39.5 | 279 |
| MIDDLEBOROUGH | 40.8 | 238 |
| MIDDLEFIELD | 50.5 | 26 |
| MIDDLETON | 41.4 | 221 |
| MILFORD | 37.8 | 317 |
| MILLBURY | 41.8 | 199 |
| MILLIS | 41.8 | 199 |
| MILLVILLE | 39.9 | 271 |
| MILTON | 38.8 | 295 |
| MONROE | 44.3 | 106 |
| MONSON | 43.2 | 140 |
| MONTAGUE | 42.9 | 155 |
| MONTEREY | 57.2 | 4 |
| MONTGOMERY | 47.3 | 51 |
| MOUNT WASHINGTON | 53.2 | 12 |
| NAHANT | 49.2 | 33 |
| NANTUCKET | 38.9 | 292 |
| NATICK | 41 | 230 |
| NEEDHAM | 42.3 | 180 |
| NEW ASHFORD | 51 | 21 |
| NEW BEDFORD | 36.8 | 326 |
| NEW BRAINTREE | 39.7 | 274 |
| NEWBURY | 44.6 | 96 |
| NEWBURYPORT | 44.6 | 96 |
| NEW MARLBOROUGH | 49.1 | 34 |
| NEW SALEM | 45.6 | 85 |
| NEWTON | 39.4 | 282 |
| NORFOLK | 41.2 | 225 |
| NORTH ADAMS | 39 | 290 |
| NORTHAMPTON | 38.6 | 301 |
| NORTH ANDOVER | 39.9 | 271 |
| NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH | 38.4 | 305 |
| NORTHBOROUGH | 40.4 | 256 |
| NORTHBRIDGE | 38.3 | 310 |
| NORTH BROOKFIELD | 40.7 | 244 |
| NORTHFIELD | 47 | 54 |
| NORTH READING | 40.6 | 246 |
| NORTON | 39.2 | 286 |
| NORWELL | 43 | 150 |
| NORWOOD | 41.8 | 199 |
| OAK BLUFFS | 41.9 | 197 |
| OAKHAM | 44.2 | 108 |
| ORANGE | 40.8 | 238 |
| ORLEANS | 62.4 | 1 |
| OTIS | 50.5 | 26 |
| OXFORD | 40.2 | 265 |
| PALMER | 41.8 | 199 |
| PAXTON | 43.5 | 129 |
| PEABODY | 44 | 113 |
| PELHAM | 49.3 | 31 |
| PEMBROKE | 40.4 | 256 |
| PEPPERELL | 40.6 | 246 |
| PERU | 41.5 | 217 |
| PETERSHAM | 47.9 | 45 |
| PHILLIPSTON | 40.9 | 236 |
| PITTSFIELD | 42.6 | 171 |
| PLAINFIELD | 52.8 | 14 |
| PLAINVILLE | 39.1 | 288 |
| PLYMOUTH | 41.3 | 223 |
| PLYMPTON | 43.9 | 114 |
| PRINCETON | 44.4 | 99 |
| PROVINCETOWN | 51.8 | 17 |
| QUINCY | 38.5 | 303 |
| RANDOLPH | 40.4 | 256 |
| RAYNHAM | 39 | 290 |
| READING | 40.7 | 244 |
| REHOBOTH | 42.8 | 163 |
| REVERE | 38.2 | 311 |
| RICHMOND | 52.2 | 16 |
| ROCHESTER | 41.3 | 223 |
| ROCKLAND | 40.3 | 263 |
| ROCKPORT | 51.8 | 17 |
| ROWE | 56.7 | 6 |
| ROWLEY | 45.7 | 84 |
| ROYALSTON | 46 | 77 |
| RUSSELL | 38.7 | 298 |
| RUTLAND | 39.4 | 282 |
| SALEM | 37 | 323 |
| SALISBURY | 45.6 | 85 |
| SANDISFIELD | 46.9 | 57 |
| SANDWICH | 43.5 | 129 |
| SAUGUS | 42.8 | 163 |
| SAVOY | 42.9 | 155 |
| SCITUATE | 44.7 | 94 |
| SEEKONK | 42.9 | 155 |
| SHARON | 42.5 | 175 |
| SHEFFIELD | 48.8 | 36 |
| SHELBURNE | 50.1 | 28 |
| SHERBORN | 44.6 | 96 |
| SHIRLEY | 38.9 | 292 |
| SHREWSBURY | 38.8 | 295 |
| SHUTESBURY | 45.4 | 88 |
| SOMERSET | 44.4 | 99 |
| SOMERVILLE | 30.7 | 347 |
| SOUTHAMPTON | 42.8 | 163 |
| SOUTHBOROUGH | 42.3 | 180 |
| SOUTHBRIDGE | 36.6 | 328 |
| SOUTH HADLEY | 40 | 269 |
| SOUTHWICK | 43 | 150 |
| SPENCER | 40.5 | 250 |
| SPRINGFIELD | 32 | 343 |
| STERLING | 42.8 | 163 |
| STOCKBRIDGE | 46.5 | 65 |
| STONEHAM | 43.7 | 122 |
| STOUGHTON | 43.2 | 140 |
| STOW | 42.3 | 180 |
| STURBRIDGE | 40.4 | 256 |
| SUDBURY | 41.8 | 199 |
| SUNDERLAND | 30.5 | 348 |
| SUTTON | 41.7 | 210 |
| SWAMPSCOTT | 44.4 | 99 |
| SWANSEA | 45 | 92 |
| TAUNTON | 38.4 | 305 |
| TEMPLETON | 41.7 | 210 |
| TEWKSBURY | 42.2 | 190 |
| TISBURY | 47.6 | 48 |
| TOLLAND | 44.1 | 111 |
| TOPSFIELD | 43.8 | 120 |
| TOWNSEND | 39.5 | 279 |
| TRURO | 53 | 13 |
| TYNGSBOROUGH | 40.4 | 256 |
| TYRINGHAM | 55.9 | 10 |
| UPTON | 42.3 | 180 |
| UXBRIDGE | 40.8 | 238 |
| WAKEFIELD | 41.8 | 199 |
| WALES | 43.6 | 126 |
| WALPOLE | 42.7 | 168 |
| WALTHAM | 34 | 340 |
| WARE | 43.1 | 144 |
| WAREHAM | 44.9 | 93 |
| WARREN | 42 | 194 |
| WARWICK | 49.5 | 29 |
| WASHINGTON | 50.8 | 22 |
| WATERTOWN | 38.8 | 295 |
| WAYLAND | 46.3 | 69 |
| WEBSTER | 40.5 | 250 |
| WELLESLEY | 37.2 | 322 |
| WELLFLEET | 60.1 | 3 |
| WENDELL | 48.5 | 40 |
| WENHAM | 28.6 | 349 |
| WESTBOROUGH | 38.5 | 303 |
| WEST BOYLSTON | 40.4 | 256 |
| WEST BRIDGEWATER | 42.4 | 176 |
| WEST BROOKFIELD | 46.9 | 57 |
| WESTFIELD | 38.6 | 301 |
| WESTFORD | 41.5 | 217 |
| WESTHAMPTON | 46 | 77 |
| WESTMINSTER | 43.1 | 144 |
| WEST NEWBURY | 43.6 | 126 |
| WESTON | 42.9 | 155 |
| WESTPORT | 45.1 | 91 |
| WEST SPRINGFIELD | 39.6 | 276 |
| WEST STOCKBRIDGE | 48.8 | 36 |
| WEST TISBURY | 42.3 | 180 |
| WESTWOOD | 42.9 | 155 |
| WEYMOUTH | 41.6 | 213 |
| WHATELY | 47.5 | 49 |
| WHITMAN | 37.7 | 318 |
| WILBRAHAM | 46.8 | 60 |
| WILLIAMSBURG | 47.7 | 47 |
| WILLIAMSTOWN | 43.2 | 140 |
| WILMINGTON | 41.2 | 225 |
| WINCHENDON | 41.2 | 225 |
| WINCHESTER | 43.3 | 136 |
| WINDSOR | 48.6 | 38 |
| WINTHROP | 42.6 | 171 |
| WOBURN | 39.6 | 276 |
| WORCESTER | 34.3 | 338 |
| WORTHINGTON | 50.7 | 25 |
| WRENTHAM | 43 | 150 |
| YARMOUTH | 51.4 | 19 |