Compare towns
Gill vs Upton vs Colrain vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gill has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k 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 | Gill | Upton | Colrain | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,740 |
8,189Highest |
1,627Lowest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
48.2±8 21% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Sheffield 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$92,120±$31k 11% below MA |
| Upton and Sheffield 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$246 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,520 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Gill and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 29% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Gill 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 | Gill-Montague | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mohawk Trail | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None 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.