Compare towns
Maynard vs Sharon vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Sharon has the highest household income ($192k).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Maynard | Sharon | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
18,574 |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
42.5±1 6% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Maynard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sharon and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Sharon and Walpole 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sharon | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | — | Sharon High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.