What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).

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	Blackstone
People
Population	3,330Lowest	9,255Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±8Highest 21% above MA	43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA
	Sheffield and Blackstone 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%	21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±4.5Highest MA: 7.9%	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sheffield and Blackstone 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	$94,191±$21kHighest 9% below MA
	Blackstone 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±$32kHighest 27% below MA	$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA
	Sheffield and Blackstone 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	$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA
	Sheffield and Blackstone 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	$5,703Highest 5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone 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%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 29% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Blackstone and Sheffield 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	#207 of 282 in MA
School district	Southern Berkshire	Blackstone-Millville
High school in town	Mt Everett Regional	Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8Lowest	13.6Highest
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.