Compare towns
Sheffield vs Pomfret vs Northfield
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).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Pomfret | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330 |
4,317Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Northfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Northfield 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% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret and Northfield 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 14% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Northfield 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. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Pomfret 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. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Pomfret 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Pomfret School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | None in town | 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 |
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.