What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sheffield	Pepperell
People
Population	3,330Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±8Highest 21% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA
	Sheffield and Pepperell 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%	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell 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%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Pepperell 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%	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell 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	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
	Pepperell 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±$32kLowest 27% below MA	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA
	Sheffield and Pepperell 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	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pepperell 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%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 29% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#250 of 282 in MA	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Southern Berkshire	North Middlesex
High school in town	Mt Everett Regional	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.