Compare towns
Sheffield vs Woonsocket 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
Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Bernardston has the most people working from home (12.7%).
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.
| Measure | Sheffield | Woonsocket | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,330 |
43,521Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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 14% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
| 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 23% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,516 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woonsocket and Bernardston 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bernardston and Sheffield 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | Mt Everett Regional | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
— |
| 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.