What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k median).

Sharon has the most people working from home (12.7%).

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	Rowe	Sharon
People
Population	453Lowest	1,577Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.4Highest 26% above U.S.	45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Rowe and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rowe and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rowe and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rowe and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,583±$13kLowest 14% below U.S.	$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Sharon and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,000±$41kLowest 17% below U.S.	$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Sharon and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,313±$576Lowest 7% below U.S.	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average
	Sharon and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,458Lowest 53% below U.S.	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	19.8%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sharon and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	7.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sharon and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rowe	Sharon School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.