Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Needham vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($737k 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.
| Measure | Ogunquit | Needham | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
32,459Highest |
18,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.5±1Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$191,835±$19k 138% above U.S. |
| Needham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$737,100±$33kLowest 122% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,310±$345Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Needham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Sharon |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.