Compare towns
Egremont vs Acton vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Egremont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Egremont | Acton | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,230Lowest |
24,155Highest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±13.6Highest 42% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
| Egremont and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.9%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±9.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Egremont and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.8% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,458±$30k about the MA average |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $664,900±$109k 18% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,349±$393Lowest 23% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,837±$1k 4% above MA |
| Acton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,647Lowest 39% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,520 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 8.5%±40.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 50% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Egremont 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Acton-Boxborough | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
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.