Compare towns
Gill vs Sheffield vs Ware vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Colrain has the most homeowners (86.5%).
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 | Gill | Sheffield | Ware | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,740 |
3,330 |
10,048Highest |
1,627Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
| Colrain and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,208±$14k 13% below MA |
$92,120±$31kHighest 11% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| Sheffield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$246 32% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,102±$77 37% below MA |
| Sheffield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,318 28% below MA |
$4,520Highest 25% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 29% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gill and Ware 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 | — | #250 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gill-Montague | Southern Berkshire | Ware | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Everett Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.