What stands out worked out from the figures below

Niantic has the most kids (14.4% under 18).

Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k median).

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	Niantic	Sharon
People
Population	3,123Highest	2,723Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	58.4±2.7Lowest 42% above CT	59.5±6Highest 45% above CT
	Sharon and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2%	7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Niantic and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.4%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5%	37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	Sharon and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%	56.8%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1%	3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Niantic and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,250±$16kLowest 15% below CT	$100,518±$15kHighest 5% above CT
	Sharon and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,000±$38kLowest 8% above CT	$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,478±$259Lowest about the CT average	$1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT
	Sharon and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,311Highest 5% below CT	$4,484Lowest 33% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±20.8Lowest CT: 52.6%	64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Sharon and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest CT: 10%	10.8%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.5% CT: 66.5%	72.5% CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT	1954Highest 13 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below CT	30 minHighest 13% above CT
Work from home	20.8%±12.3Highest CT: 16%	18.7%±6.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Niantic 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.