Compare towns
Sheffield vs Orange vs Sheffield
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 42).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($246k median).
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).
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 | Orange | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573 |
7,573Highest |
190Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8Highest 8% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
34.7%±13.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheffield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±14Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheffield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26k 28% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$65,795±$12kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,900±$50k 48% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$122,700±$70kLowest 63% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79 32% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,219±$563Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123 32% below U.S. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,714Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheffield and Orange 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.