Compare towns
Northfield vs Sheffield vs Sutton
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).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Sheffield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872Lowest |
3,330 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% 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% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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% |
23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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±$10k about the MA average |
$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Sheffield and Sutton 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 |
$4,520Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield and Sutton 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% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Southern Berkshire | Sutton |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Mt Everett Regional | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
7.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.