Compare towns
Sheffield vs Plainville vs Egremont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Egremont has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Plainville | Egremont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330 |
17,551Highest |
1,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.9±13.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Egremont and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.9%±5.9Lowest 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%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Egremont 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.1Lowest 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±$31k 14% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$101,458±$30kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Egremont 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 23% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$664,900±$109kHighest 100% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,349±$393 5% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,520 45% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,647Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
8.5%±40.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
44 minHighest 65% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.