Compare towns
Webster vs Sheffield vs Webster
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 most homeowners (82.3%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
3,330Lowest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| Sheffield and Webster 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% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
15.7%±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+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$92,120±$31kHighest 11% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% 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 | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% 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 |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Southern Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Mt Everett Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
7.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.