Compare towns

Chatham 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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Sharon has the highest household income ($113k).

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.

MeasureChathamWorcesterSharon
People
Population
430Lowest
831Highest
442
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.3±8.6
24% above U.S.
47±2.7Lowest
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%
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%
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%
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%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±3Lowest
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.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$113,125±$19kHighest
40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,900±$42k
9% 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.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$8,274Highest
165% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
28.6%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Chatham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%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%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
32 min
21% above U.S.
Work from home
7.3%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
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

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.