Compare towns
Sharon vs Dover vs Walpole
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 ($1340k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574 |
5,930Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1 6% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest 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% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.7% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Walpole 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 |
$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $737,100±$33k 31% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,310±$345 31% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above MA |
| Dover and Sharon 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 |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Sharon and Walpole 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 33% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Sharon High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.