Compare towns
Deerfield vs Sheffield vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($409k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Deerfield | Sheffield | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
3,330Lowest |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
| Deerfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Sheffield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$4,520Lowest 25% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
21 min 29% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Southern Berkshire | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Mt Everett Regional | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.