Compare towns
Northfield vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Ware | Oakham | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
10,048Highest |
1,639Lowest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
48.2±8 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Oakham 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$92,120±$31k 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±$31k 33% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% 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±$200 35% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,520 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 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 |
28 min about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Ware | Quabbin | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.1Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.