Compare towns
Buckland vs Webster vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buckland has the most people working from home (14.1%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.
| Measure | Buckland | Webster | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,036Lowest |
17,748Highest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.4Highest 24% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
| Buckland and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Buckland and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,877±$6k 20% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$92,120±$31kHighest 11% below MA |
| Sheffield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$213Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
| Sheffield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,761Highest 21% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,520 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Buckland and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Buckland and Sheffield 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Webster | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School | Bartlett High School | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
11.6Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.