Compare towns
Gill vs Ware 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
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 | Ware | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,740Lowest |
10,048Highest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
| Sheffield and Gill 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Gill 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$92,120±$31kHighest 11% 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$246 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,520Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 29% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gill-Montague | Ware | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
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.