Compare towns
Barnet vs Sharon vs Stoneham vs Monroe
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).
Sharon has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Sharon | Stoneham | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,577 |
23,355Highest |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Barnet 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% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 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%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Monroe 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Sharon School District | Stoneham | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.