Compare towns
Foxborough vs Plainfield vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Sharon has the highest household income ($192k).
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 | Foxborough | Plainfield | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,615Highest |
616Lowest |
18,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
42.5±1 6% above MA |
| Plainfield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sharon and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,833±$9k 11% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $606,300±$28k 8% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$70 5% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,275 21% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±13.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Foxborough and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
38 min 30% above MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sharon and Plainfield 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 | #138 of 282 in MA | — | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Foxborough | — | Sharon |
| High school in town | Foxborough High | — | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.