Compare towns
Sheffield vs Windsor Locks vs Salisbury
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 oldest population (median age 48.2).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k 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 | Windsor Locks | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330Lowest |
12,579Highest |
4,224 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.2±9.9 14% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Salisbury 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%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.1%±5.1Highest 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$31k 14% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,256±$26kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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±$32k 23% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$763,700±$121kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1k 30% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,846±$736Highest 31% above 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,125Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Windsor Locks 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 | #19 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | Windsor Locks School District | Salisbury School District |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
8.9Highest |
— |
| 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.