Compare towns
Millville vs Needham vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millville has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Millville | Needham | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,160Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.2 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
| Sheffield and Millville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,188±$32k 22% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$25k 21% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,468±$234Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,837±$1k 4% above MA |
| Needham and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,327 11% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,520Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.2%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Millville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #180 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Needham | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
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.