Compare towns
Sheffield vs Windsor Locks vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Northfield has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Windsor Locks | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330 |
12,579Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Northfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor Locks and Northfield 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Northfield 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$103,375±$10kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Northfield 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±$32kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$375,800±$31k 13% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Northfield 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Windsor Locks School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Windsor Locks High School | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
8.9 |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.