Compare towns
Northfield vs Sheffield vs Upton vs Ashby
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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Upton | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872Lowest |
3,330 |
8,189Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Ashby 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% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ashby 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Upton and Ashby 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±$32k 27% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200 35% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Sheffield and Ashby 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Northfield 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%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 |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Ashby 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Southern Berkshire | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Mt Everett Regional | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
7.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.