Compare towns

Hull vs Lenox vs Sheffield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Lenox has the most renters (28.6% rent).
Sheffield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

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.

MeasureHullLenoxSheffield
People
Population
10,138Highest
5,079
3,330Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%
MA: +7.4%
+2.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
56.1±1.8
40% above MA
60.1±4.3Highest
50% above MA
48.2±8Lowest
21% above MA
Lenox and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
13.3%±4.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.3%±4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
26.1%±3.1
MA: 17.9%
40.1%±7.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
23.2%±5.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.4%
MA: 47.3%
52.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
37.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±2.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±4.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Lenox and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$115,485±$14kHighest
11% above MA
$106,080±$31k
about the MA average
$92,120±$31kLowest
11% below MA
Hull and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,000±$38kHighest
15% above MA
$466,700±$43k
17% below MA
$409,400±$32kLowest
27% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,081±$187Highest
18% above MA
$1,091±$238Lowest
38% below MA
$1,837±$1k
4% above MA
Hull and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,089Highest
about the MA average
$5,299
12% below MA
$4,520Lowest
25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±14Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.2%±18.8
MA: 51.8%
29.2%±21.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Hull and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.5%Highest
MA: 10%
6.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.6%
MA: 62.5%
71.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
82.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
14% above MA
23 min
22% below MA
21 minLowest
29% below MA
Work from home
19.7%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
18.3%±8.8
MA: 18.6%
8.5%±5.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Hull and Lenox 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 #66 of 282 in MA #90 of 282 in MA #250 of 282 in MA
School district Hull Lenox Southern Berkshire
High school in town Hull High Lenox Memorial High Mt Everett Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
8.8Highest
7.6Lowest
7.8
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.