Compare towns
Sharon vs Dover 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 kids (27.2% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Norwood has the most renters (46% rent).
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 | Dover | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574 |
2,308Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1 6% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sharon and Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.7% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$19k 85% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$107,030±$11kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $737,100±$33k 31% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$651,700±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
— | $2,116±$83Lowest 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,111Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 33% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Sharon 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | — | — |
| High school in town | Sharon High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.