Compare towns
Sheffield vs Sutton vs Salisbury vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k median).
Bernardston has the most affordable homes ($332k median).
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 | Sutton | Salisbury | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,330 |
9,452Highest |
4,224 |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.2±9.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Bernardston 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Salisbury 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$31k 14% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$124,256±$26k 54% above U.S. |
$81,940±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,400±$32k 23% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$763,700±$121kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$332,000±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1k 30% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,846±$736Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,520 45% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,125 64% above U.S. |
$4,516Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #19 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Sutton | Salisbury School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.