What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most kids (27.2% under 18).

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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	Sharon	Andover
People
Population	18,574Lowest	36,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA
	Andover and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sharon and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sharon and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA	$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA
	Sharon and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$737,100±$33kLowest 31% above MA	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA	$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA
	Sharon and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8%	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sharon and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 33% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sharon and Andover 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	#23 of 282 in MA	#68 of 282 in MA
School district	Sharon	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Sharon High	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.8Highest
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.