Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Upton vs West Brookfield 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 most kids (23.2% under 18).
West Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | West Brookfield | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909Lowest |
8,189Highest |
3,859 |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
| West Brookfield and Buzzards Bay 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% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| West Brookfield and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest 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 |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$354,000±$21kLowest 37% below MA |
$409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,236±$271 30% 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 |
$4,260 29% 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% |
30.3%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and West Brookfield 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 | #162 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quaboag Regional | 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.