Compare towns
Dudley vs Sheffield vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Whitman has the most people working from home (10.8%).
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 | Dudley | Sheffield | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
3,330Lowest |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Sheffield and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$92,120±$31k 11% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Whitman and Sheffield 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±$32k 27% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Sheffield and Whitman 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 |
$4,520 25% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whitman and Dudley 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Southern Berkshire | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Mt Everett Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
7.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.