Compare towns
Cornwall vs Lancaster vs Sharon vs West Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Sharon has the most renters (27.5% rent).
West Cornwall has the highest household income ($175k).
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 | Cornwall | Lancaster | Sharon | West Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,425 |
8,606Highest |
2,723 |
70Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 53.9±5.1 39% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
59.5±6 53% above U.S. |
61.3±14.1Highest 58% above U.S. |
| West Cornwall and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
8.6%±49.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.3%±50.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Cornwall and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±21.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cornwall and West Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,864±$34k 60% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$100,518±$15kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$175,156±$54kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| West Cornwall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $554,600±$106k 67% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$590,700±$156kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$395,800±$64kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,047±$121Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
— |
| Lancaster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,792 86% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,484 44% above U.S. |
$3,056Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sharon 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±13.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±12.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Cornwall 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Cornwall School District | Nashoba | 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 | 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.