Compare towns
Foxborough vs Woonsocket vs Dedham 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
Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Sharon has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Woonsocket | Dedham | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,615 |
43,521Highest |
25,237 |
18,574Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 9% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Woonsocket 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 43% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$191,835±$19kHighest 138% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $606,300±$28k 82% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$737,100±$33kHighest 122% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$70 30% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,310±$345Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,275 133% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #119 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Foxborough | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Dedham | Sharon |
| High school in town | Foxborough High | Woonsocket High School | Dedham High | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
15.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.