The study is an attempt at classification of 182 communes (gminy) of the Małopolskie voivodeship from the point of view of chosen factors influencing their local development. The adopted set of variables included 5 thematic categories: demography, economy, infrastructure, environmental management and land management. The scope of the variables is related to availability of statistical material. The data were acquired form public statistical sources – CSO (GUS) Local Data Bank for 2013–2014. The classification was carried out by Ward’s hierarchical clustering method. The analysis led to isolation of factors shaping local development of a group of communes. It was demonstrated that in prevailing part of the studied area one main factor determines local development of these communes, namely environmental management.