Compare towns
Sheffield vs Douglas vs Upton vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($409k median).
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k 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 | Douglas | Upton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,330Lowest |
9,207Highest |
8,189 |
4,224 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.2±9.9 14% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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±$31kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$124,256±$26k 54% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,400±$32kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$763,700±$121kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1k 30% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,846±$736Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,520Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,125 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Upton 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #19 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Salisbury School District |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8 |
7.2Lowest |
11.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.