What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the most homeowners (82.3%).

Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

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	Central Falls
People
Population	3,330Lowest	22,701Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S.	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	23.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Central Falls 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±$31kHighest 14% above U.S.	$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S.	$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S.
	Sheffield and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S.	$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Sheffield and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,520Highest 45% above U.S.	$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Central Falls 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 U.S.: 12.5%	24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	8.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sheffield and Central Falls 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	#38 of 38 in RI
School district	Southern Berkshire	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town	Mt Everett Regional	Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.