Compare towns
Sheffield vs Putnam vs Plainfield
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 most expensive homes ($409k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Putnam | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330Lowest |
9,292 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sheffield and Putnam 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% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Plainfield 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,520Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
9.5 |
10.3Highest |
| 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.