Compare towns

Medfield vs Exeter vs Sherborn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Medfield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).

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.

MeasureMedfieldExeterSherborn
People
Population
13,068
16,151Highest
4,427Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±3Lowest
9% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
42.8±2.3
10% above U.S.
Exeter and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
28.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
29.2%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sherborn and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.3%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
78.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
82.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$235,800±$32k
192% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kLowest
37% above U.S.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$911,100±$32k
174% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
$1,026,800±$72kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,035±$559
44% above U.S.
$1,856±$223Lowest
31% above U.S.
$2,338±$316Highest
65% above U.S.
Sherborn and Medfield 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 221% above U.S.
$8,814Lowest
183% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±20.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±26.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Medfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
36.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
49.1%±7.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sherborn and Medfield 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 #26 of 282 in MA #22 of 120 in NH #53 of 282 in MA
School district Medfield Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Sherborn
High school in town Medfield Senior High Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
12.1Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 59 photos → 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.