Compare towns
Sheffield vs Pepperell vs Bernardston
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%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Bernardston has the most affordable homes ($332k median).
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 | Pepperell | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330 |
11,663Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8 21% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
| Bernardston 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% |
20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Pepperell and Bernardston 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% |
22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest 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±$31k 11% below MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below 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±$32k 27% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,283±$553Lowest 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 | $4,520 25% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 29% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Bernardston 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | North Middlesex | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.