Compare towns
Sheffield vs Ware vs Bernardston
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 most expensive homes ($409k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ware | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330 |
10,048Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8 21% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Bernardston 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Bernardston 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 MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 11% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
| Sheffield and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
| Sheffield and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,520Highest 25% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 29% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bernardston and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Ware | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.