Compare towns
Sheffield vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 3,330Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
| Sheffield and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Sheffield 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% |
22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 11% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Sheffield and Hardwick 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Sheffield and Hardwick 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 |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Sheffield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,520Highest 25% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 29% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hardwick 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 | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8 |
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| 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.