Compare towns
Sheffield vs Acton vs Northfield
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
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 | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330 |
24,155Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8 21% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% 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 | 13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest 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+ | 37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Northfield 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 |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1k 4% above MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% 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 |
$4,594 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield and Acton 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% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 29% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #250 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Acton-Boxborough | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.