What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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.

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

Measure	Sharon	Stoughton
People
Population	18,574Lowest	29,225Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA
Kids under 18	27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Stoughton 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stoughton 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±$19kHighest 85% above MA	$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA	$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA	$2,050±$200Lowest 16% above MA
	Sharon and Stoughton 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	$6,215Lowest 4% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Stoughton 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%	8.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 33% above MA	33 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#23 of 282 in MA	#196 of 282 in MA
School district	Sharon	Stoughton
High school in town	Sharon High	Stoughton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.