What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northfield	Sheffield
People
Population	2,872Lowest	3,330Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA	48.2±8Lowest 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%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northfield and Sheffield 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%	23.2%±5.2Lowest 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%	37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±4.5Lowest 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	$92,120±$31kLowest 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	$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA
	Sheffield and Northfield 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	$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA
	Sheffield and Northfield 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	$4,520Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8%	29.2%±21.2Lowest 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%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	21 minLowest 29% below MA
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northfield and Sheffield 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	Southern Berkshire
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	Mt Everett Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	7.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.