Compare towns
Sharon vs Newfields vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Newfields | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574 |
2,023Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfields 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$19k 138% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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±$33kHighest 122% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,310±$345Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$2,116±$83 50% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Norwood 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,111Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwood and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sharon and Newfields 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 | — | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Newfields School District | Norwood |
| High school in town | Sharon High | None in town | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.