What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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