Compare towns
Sheffield vs Sturbridge vs Egremont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Egremont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Sturbridge | Egremont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330 |
9,960Highest |
1,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+12%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8 21% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA |
56.9±13.6Highest 42% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.9%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±9.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.1Lowest 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 |
$101,458±$30k about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Egremont 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±$18k 24% below MA |
$664,900±$109kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,349±$393 23% below MA |
| 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 25% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$3,647Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
8.5%±40.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 29% below MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
44 minHighest 50% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Egremont and Sturbridge 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 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.