What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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

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