What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Douglas	Sheffield
People
Population	9,207Highest	3,330Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA	48.2±8Highest 21% above MA
	Sheffield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA	$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA	$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA	$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA
	Sheffield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Highest 6% above MA	$4,520Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8%	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Douglas and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	21 minLowest 29% below MA
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#177 of 282 in MA	#250 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Southern Berkshire
High school in town	Douglas High School	Mt Everett Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	7.8Highest
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.