Compare towns
Northfield vs Oakham 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%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Sheffield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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 | Oakham | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
1,639Lowest |
3,330Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
48.2±8Lowest 21% above MA |
| Oakham and Northfield 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% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest 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% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA |
| Northfield and Oakham 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 |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
| Oakham and Sheffield 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 |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
| Sheffield and Oakham 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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,520 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Oakham 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 | — | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Quabbin | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 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.