What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($409k median).

Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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	Sheffield	Acton
People
Population	3,330Lowest	24,155Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±8Highest 21% above MA	44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA
	Sheffield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	79.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Acton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA	$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA	$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,837±$1kLowest 4% above MA	$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA
	Acton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,520Lowest 25% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Acton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest MA: 10%	3.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 29% below MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#250 of 282 in MA	#13 of 282 in MA
School district	Southern Berkshire	Acton-Boxborough
High school in town	Mt Everett Regional	Acton-Boxborough Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8Lowest	13.5Highest
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.