Compare towns
Sheffield vs Acton vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most homeowners (82.3%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 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 | Sheffield | Acton | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330Lowest |
24,155Highest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8 21% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Deerfield 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% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Acton 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 |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1k 4% above MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below 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 |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 29% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #250 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Acton-Boxborough | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.