What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).

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	Northfield
People
Population	3,330Highest	2,872Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±8Lowest 21% above MA	48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA
	Northfield and Sheffield 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%	14.8%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±5.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Northfield 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 MA: 47.3%	42.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northfield 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 11% below MA	$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average
	Northfield 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	$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA
	Sheffield and Northfield 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	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA
	Sheffield and Northfield 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	$4,594Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northfield 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%	6.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 29% below MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA
School district	Southern Berkshire	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	Mt Everett Regional	Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8Lowest	10.7Highest
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.