The Town FilesSheffield, Massachusetts
Town in Berkshire County · population 3,327 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $409,400
- Household income
- $92,120
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 48.2
Sheffield is a town of 3,327 people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $409,400, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Massachusetts towns, better for a vacation home than 90% of Massachusetts towns, easier by car than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
How Sheffield ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sheffield is worth $409,400, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $92,120, which is more affordable than 57% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,837 a month. 82.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sheffield | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $409,400 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,837 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $92,120 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 82.3% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.1% | — |
Who lives in Sheffield
| People | Sheffield | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.5% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 93.9% |
Weather in Sheffield
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 14.2°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.2 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sheffield since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 3, 1997 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 2, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 31, 1973.
Severe weather in Berkshire County since 1996
Berkshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Berkshire County
Berkshire County had 57,946 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Sheffield itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Sheffield
3 public schools with 603 students, about 8.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Everett Regional | 6-12 | 281 | 7.2 |
| Undermountain | PK-5 | 257 | 9.5 |
| New Marlborough Central | PK-3 | 65 | 8.1 |
Towns near Sheffield
- North Canaan, CT6.6 mi · 3,211 people · home $267,300
- Great Barrington, MA8.3 mi · 7,172 people · home $494,300
- Salisbury, CT8.8 mi · 4,194 people · home $763,700
- Copake, NY9.8 mi · 3,346 people · home $325,000
- North East, NY14.5 mi · 2,971 people · home $334,000
- Lee, MA15.2 mi · 5,788 people · home $352,700
- Sharon, CT17.4 mi · 2,680 people · home $590,700
- Winchester, CT17.7 mi · 10,224 people · home $249,500
Sheffield questions
Is Sheffield, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sheffield scores better for retirees than 92% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 84%. 23.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Sheffield?
The median owner-occupied home in Sheffield is valued at $409,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,120, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,837 a month.
What is the weather like in Sheffield?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 14.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 57.2 inches of snow.
Does Sheffield get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sheffield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 3, 1997. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)