Compare towns
Northfield vs Dudley 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 people working from home (16.5%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Dudley | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872Lowest |
11,929Highest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$92,120±$31k 11% below MA |
| Northfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
| Sheffield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
| Sheffield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 23% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,520 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield and Dudley 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% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Dudley 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
14.3Highest |
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.