Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Sutton vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Sharon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
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 | Hopkinton | Sutton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,358Highest |
9,452Lowest |
18,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.5±1 6% above MA |
| Sutton and Sharon 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8 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% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 77.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sharon and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$191,835±$19k 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$737,100±$33k 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 |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,310±$345 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.4%±14.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hopkinton | Sutton | Sharon |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High | Sutton High School | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.4Highest |
12.6 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.