Compare towns
Sheffield vs Athol 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%).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Deerfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Sheffield | Athol | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330Lowest |
12,011Highest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8 21% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% 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% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield 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±$31k 11% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Deerfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA |
| Deerfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Sheffield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,520 25% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 29% below MA |
27 minHighest 8% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield and Athol 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Athol-Royalston | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Athol High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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.