Population 2,402 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sheffield
Household size in Sheffield
| Period | Sheffield | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.08 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.24 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.18 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.61 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.53 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.61 people per household, Sheffield sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Massachusetts overall, where it has 2.52 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.08, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Sheffield
| Period | Sheffield | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.4 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.0 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.0 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Sheffield skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Sheffield
| Period | Sheffield | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −9.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Sheffield: 4.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Sheffield
Renters in Sheffield
| Period | Sheffield | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.4% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.0% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.7% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Sheffield is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 22.3% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Sheffield
| Period | Sheffield | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.5% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.8% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 30.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.3% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −16.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in Sheffield than nationally: 13.3%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Sheffield
| Period | Sheffield | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1951 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1958 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Sheffield is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1970, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Even so, homes here are newer than in Massachusetts overall, where the median home dates to 1963.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Sheffield
| Period | Sheffield | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $722 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $892 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $966 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,925 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,203 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in Sheffield pays $1,925 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. That is in line with the rest of Massachusetts. Rent takes 29.7% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Sheffield
Bachelor's degrees in Sheffield
| Period | Sheffield | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.1% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.6% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.5% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.1% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in Sheffield (36.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in Massachusetts as a whole (47.2%).
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Sheffield
| Period | Sheffield | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.9% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.9% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.3% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Sheffield: 94.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Sheffield
| Period | Sheffield | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 0.6% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.1% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Sheffield has been strong: just 1.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Sheffield compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield | 2.61 | 48.0 | 4.7% | 22.7% | 13.3% | 1970 | $1,925 | 36.1% | 94.3% | 1.1% |
| Ashley Falls | 2.50 | 45.3 | 3.3% | 2.4% | 4.1% | 1978 | $1,866 | 40.8% | 95.8% | 11.7% |
| Mill River | 2.66 | 51.0 | 1.8% | 5.2% | 34.4% | 1976 | $2,614 | 37.7% | 97.2% | 4.0% |
| South Egremont | 2.39 | 56.7 | 4.8% | 15.5% | 37.1% | 1967 | $1,323 | 59.7% | 95.9% | 2.5% |
| Berkshire Heights | 2.07 | 46.1 | 3.7% | 31.6% | 26.5% | 1979 | $1,560 | 57.0% | 96.3% | 14.9% |
| Mount Washington | 2.31 | 56.3 | 4.3% | 17.2% | 43.8% | 1969 | $1,337 | 64.7% | 94.9% | 0.6% |
| Canaan | 2.37 | 35.6 | 21.0% | 40.6% | 18.9% | 1961 | $1,313 | 25.8% | 96.6% | 8.9% |
| Southfield | 2.62 | 53.1 | 2.3% | 4.5% | 37.7% | 1970 | $2,845 | 43.8% | 97.5% | 3.8% |
| Hartsville | 2.32 | 58.8 | 6.0% | 10.3% | 47.5% | 1955 | $2,692 | 60.2% | 97.2% | 2.8% |
| Taconic | 2.34 | 53.1 | 3.5% | 2.6% | 46.5% | 1980 | $1,846 | 53.1% | 100.0% | 8.7% |
| Great Barrington | 2.22 | 50.2 | 7.0% | 28.2% | 27.3% | 1965 | $1,700 | 52.2% | 94.8% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Shady Spring, WV · Liberty, IL · Lopez, WA · Marlborough, NH · Meansville, GA · Melfa, VA · Menlo, GA · Mulberry, IN · Newport, VA · Newton Lower Falls, MA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Sheffield. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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