What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.

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

Measure	Sheffield	Plainville
People
Population	3,330Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Sheffield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainville 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 U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sheffield and Plainville 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 U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville 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 14% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Sheffield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Sheffield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,520Lowest 45% above U.S.	$4,798Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainville 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 U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	21 minHighest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Southern Berkshire	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Mt Everett Regional	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.