Compare towns
Chatham vs Windham vs Worcester 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
Chatham has the most renters (17.2% rent).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Chatham | Windham | Worcester | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 430Lowest |
594 |
831Highest |
442 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,458±$1kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.