Compare towns
Sheffield vs Northfield vs Mount Washington
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).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Mount Washington has the most people working from home (30.1%).
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 | Northfield | Mount Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330Highest |
2,872 |
193Lowest |
| 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±4.2 22% above MA |
52.1±10.7Highest 30% above MA |
| Mount Washington and Northfield 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%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.1%±14.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mount Washington and Northfield 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%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
27.5%±13Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Mount Washington and Northfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±7.7Lowest 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±$10k about the MA average |
$142,500±$26kHighest 37% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$714,300±$141kHighest 27% above MA |
| 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 | $4,520 25% below MA |
$4,594Highest 23% below MA |
$3,316Lowest 45% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
75%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Mount Washington and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 29% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±14.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Mount Washington and Northfield 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 | 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.