What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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	Dudley	Sheffield
People
Population	11,929Highest	3,330Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average	48.2±8Highest 21% above MA
	Sheffield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dudley and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	37.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA	$92,120±$31kHighest 11% below MA
	Sheffield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA	$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA
	Sheffield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA	$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA
	Sheffield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA	$4,520Highest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dudley and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4% MA: 10%	6.4% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 6% below MA	21 minLowest 29% below MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA	#250 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Southern Berkshire
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Mt Everett Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	7.8Lowest
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.