Compare towns
Sheffield vs Douglas vs Mount Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Mount Washington has the most expensive homes ($714k median).
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 | Sheffield | Douglas | Mount Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330 |
9,207Highest |
193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.2±8 21% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
52.1±10.7Highest 30% above MA |
| Mount Washington and Sheffield 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% |
16.1%±14.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.5%±13Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Mount Washington and Sheffield 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±7.7Lowest 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 |
$142,500±$26k 37% above MA |
| Douglas and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$714,300±$141kHighest 27% above 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 | $4,520 25% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$3,316Lowest 45% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
75%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Mount Washington and Douglas 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% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 29% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±14.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Mount Washington and Douglas 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 | #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 | 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.