Compare towns
Webster vs Sheffield vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dudley has the most people working from home (9.1%).
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.
| Measure | Webster | Sheffield | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
3,330Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
40.2±2.4 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 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest 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+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$92,120±$31kHighest 11% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 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 | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 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 | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% 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 | $3,999 33% below MA |
$4,520Highest 25% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Southern Berkshire | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Mt Everett Regional | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
7.8Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| 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.