What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most affordable homes ($737k median).

Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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	Hopkinton
People
Population	18,574Lowest	19,358Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+25.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±1Highest 6% above MA	40.8±1.6Lowest about the MA average
	Sharon and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	29.5%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hopkinton and Sharon 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%	12.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	77.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sharon and Hopkinton 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	$222,801±$22kHighest 114% above MA
	Hopkinton and Sharon 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	$802,700±$39kHighest 43% above MA
	Hopkinton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,310±$345Lowest 31% above MA	$2,641±$361Highest 50% above MA
	Hopkinton and Sharon 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%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	64.4%±14.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hopkinton and Sharon 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%	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 33% above MA	36 minLowest 24% above MA
Work from home	31.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hopkinton 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	#5 of 282 in MA
School district	Sharon	Hopkinton
High school in town	Sharon High	Hopkinton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	14.4Highest
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.