Compare towns
Sharon vs Dover vs Westwood
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 affordable homes ($737k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Westwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Westwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574Highest |
5,930Lowest |
16,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
| Dover and Westwood 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%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Sharon and Westwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westwood and Sharon 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% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9Lowest 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±$19kLowest 85% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$223,125±$33k 115% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $737,100±$33kLowest 31% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,041,500±$42k 85% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,310±$345Lowest 31% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,553±$323 45% above MA |
| Dover and Westwood 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 |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westwood and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 33% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±5.1Lowest 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 | #16 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Westwood |
| High school in town | Sharon High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Westwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.