What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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	Oxford	Sharon
People
Population	13,385Lowest	18,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA	42.5±1Highest 6% above MA
	Sharon and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sharon and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sharon and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	76.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Oxford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average	$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA	$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA	$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,622Lowest 23% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8%	49%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Oxford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the MA average	39 minHighest 33% above MA
Work from home	16.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#245 of 282 in MA	#23 of 282 in MA
School district	Oxford	Sharon
High school in town	Oxford High	Sharon High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.