What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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	Nelson	Sharon
People
Population	648Lowest	1,577Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S.
	Sharon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sharon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sharon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S.	$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Nelson and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average	$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Sharon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average
	Sharon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S.	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nelson and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Nelson School District	Sharon School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.