Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Upton vs Bernardston vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Bernardston has the most affordable homes ($332k median).
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 | Buzzards Bay | Upton | Bernardston | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909 |
8,189Highest |
2,164Lowest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
49±3.2 23% above MA |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
$92,120±$31k 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
| Sheffield and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,516 25% below MA |
$4,520 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
21 min 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Buzzards Bay 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Pioneer Valley | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.