What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

Sharon has the most affordable homes ($737k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hopkinton	Sharon
People
Population	19,358Highest	18,574Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+25.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.8±1.6Lowest about the MA average	42.5±1Highest 6% above MA
	Sharon and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29.5%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%	27.2%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hopkinton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	77.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	76.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sharon and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$222,801±$22kHighest 114% above MA	$191,835±$19kLowest 85% above MA
	Hopkinton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$802,700±$39kHighest 43% above MA	$737,100±$33kLowest 31% above MA
	Hopkinton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,641±$361Highest 50% above MA	$2,310±$345Lowest 31% above MA
	Hopkinton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.4%±14.9Highest MA: 51.8%	49%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hopkinton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%	3.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 24% above MA	39 minHighest 33% above MA
Work from home	33.6%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	31.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hopkinton and Sharon 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	#5 of 282 in MA	#23 of 282 in MA
School district	Hopkinton	Sharon
High school in town	Hopkinton High	Sharon High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.4Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.