What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Sheffield	Sturbridge
People
Population	3,330Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±8Highest 21% above MA	47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA
	Sheffield and Sturbridge 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%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Sturbridge 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 MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge 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±$31kLowest 11% below MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge 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±$32kLowest 27% below MA	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA
	Sturbridge and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Sheffield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,520Lowest 25% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 29% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#250 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Southern Berkshire	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Mt Everett Regional	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.