What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Preston has the most kids (16.9% under 18).

Sharon has the highest household income ($101k).

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	New Preston	Sharon
People
Population	1,146Lowest	2,723Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	51.8±12.8Lowest 26% above CT	59.5±6Highest 45% above CT
	Sharon and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±7Highest CT: 20.2%	7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2%
	New Preston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.3%±5.5Lowest CT: 18.5%	37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	Sharon and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.8%Highest CT: 42.5%	56.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4.7Highest CT: 7.1%	3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1%
	New Preston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,406±$28kLowest 20% below CT	$100,518±$15kHighest 5% above CT
	Sharon and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$452,600±$43kLowest 23% above CT	$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT
	Sharon and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,750±$1k 18% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,528Lowest 47% below CT	$4,484Highest 33% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6%	64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Sharon and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.8%Highest CT: 10%	10.8%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest CT: 66.5%	72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT	1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above CT	30 minHighest 13% above CT
Work from home	32.3%±28Highest CT: 16%	18.7%±6.8Lowest CT: 16%
	New Preston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Sharon School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

CT 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.