What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).

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	Sutton
People
Population	3,330Lowest	9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±8Highest 21% above MA	44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA
	Sheffield and Sutton 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%	19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sutton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Sutton 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%	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±4.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sheffield and Sutton 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	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	Sutton 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	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
	Sheffield and Sutton 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	$6,763Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton 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%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 29% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#250 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Southern Berkshire	Sutton
High school in town	Mt Everett Regional	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8Lowest	12.6Highest
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.