Compare towns
Buckland vs Windham vs Worcester vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buckland has the most renters (25.4% rent).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Windham | Worcester | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,036 |
594Lowest |
831 |
3,330Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buckland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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 about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$92,120±$31k 14% above U.S. |
| Windham and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,400±$25k 3% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$213 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,761 53% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,520 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Buckland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | — | — | — | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School | — | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | — | 7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.