Compare towns
Northfield vs Salem 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 highest household income ($103k).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Salem | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872Lowest |
44,795Highest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest 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% |
15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem 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±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% 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 |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
| Sheffield and Salem 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 |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,520Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Northfield 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Salem | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Salem 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.