Compare towns
Sharon vs Douglas vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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.
| Measure | Sharon | Douglas | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574 |
9,207Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1 6% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Douglas 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% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sharon and Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$107,030±$11kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$651,700±$13k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,116±$83 20% above MA |
| Sharon and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,111Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwood and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 33% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #23 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Douglas | Norwood |
| High school in town | Sharon High | Douglas High School | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
7.2Lowest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.