Compare towns
Sharon vs Needham vs Medfield
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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Medfield has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Needham | Medfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574 |
32,459Highest |
13,068Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.4±3Lowest 6% above MA |
| 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%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
28.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Medfield and Needham 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% |
15.4%±2.4Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$235,800±$32kHighest 127% above MA |
| Medfield and Needham 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$911,100±$32k 62% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,310±$345 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$559Lowest 15% 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+ 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%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
63.1%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Medfield and Needham 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% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 33% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Medfield and Needham 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 | #26 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Needham | Medfield |
| High school in town | Sharon High | Needham High | Medfield Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
11.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.