Compare towns
Barnet vs Middleton vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Sharon has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Barnet | Middleton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
9,816Highest |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Middleton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnet and Sharon 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 | — | #71 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Middleton | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.