Compare towns
Sharon vs Springfield 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 highest household income ($192k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Springfield | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574Lowest |
154,749Highest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1Highest 6% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
| Sharon and Walpole 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% |
24.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Walpole 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
| Sharon and Walpole 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 33% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Sharon and Walpole 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Springfield | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Sharon High | Springfield Central High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.2Highest |
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.