Compare towns
Northfield vs Dover vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Northfield | Dover | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872Lowest |
5,930Highest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
| Northfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10k about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,837±$1k 4% above MA |
| Dover and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,520Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #231 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
9.8 |
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.