Compare towns
Barnet vs Sharon vs Townsend
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,577Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest 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% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Sharon School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.