Compare towns
Sharon vs Needham 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 homeowners (87.7%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).
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 | Needham | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574Lowest |
32,459Highest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Needham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Sharon 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% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
| Needham 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±$33k 31% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,310±$345 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above MA |
| Needham 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%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 33% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Sharon High | — | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.