Compare towns
Sharon vs Lancaster 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 highest household income ($192k).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Lancaster | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574 |
8,606Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1 6% above MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$107,030±$11kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$651,700±$13k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,310±$345 31% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,116±$83Lowest 20% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$6,111Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 33% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | Sharon High | None in town | — |
| 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.