Compare towns
Sheffield vs Gardner vs Millville
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).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Millville has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Gardner | Millville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330 |
21,148Highest |
3,160Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
46±2.2 15% above MA |
| Sheffield and Millville 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.7%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Millville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Gardner 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$127,188±$32kHighest 22% above MA |
| Millville 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$444,600±$25kHighest 21% below MA |
| Millville 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 |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,468±$234 17% below MA |
| Sheffield and Millville 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,327Highest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Millville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 29% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Millville 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #180 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Gardner | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.