What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sharon	Norwood
People
Population	18,574Lowest	31,542Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±1Highest 6% above MA	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9%	17.6%±1.4 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	55.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.2 MA: 7.9%	5%±1.1 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA	$107,030±$11kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA	$651,700±$13kLowest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA	$2,116±$83Lowest 20% above MA
	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 67% above MA	$6,111Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.3%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	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%Lowest MA: 10%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	54%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 33% above MA	30 minLowest 4% above MA
Work from home	31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#23 of 282 in MA	#176 of 282 in MA
School district	Sharon	—
High school in town	Sharon High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
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.