What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the most homeowners (82.3%).

Webster 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	Webster
People
Population	3,330Lowest	17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±8Highest 21% above MA	39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average
	Sheffield and Webster 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%	19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Webster 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%	19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Webster 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%	25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Webster 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±$31kHighest 11% below MA	$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA
	Sheffield and Webster 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	$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA	$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA
	Sheffield and Webster 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	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Webster and Sheffield 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%	12.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 29% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	8.5%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sheffield and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	Southern Berkshire	Webster
High school in town	Mt Everett Regional	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8Lowest	11.6Highest
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.