Compare towns
Sharon vs Suffield vs Walpole vs Stoughton
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 highest household income ($192k).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Walpole has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Stoughton has the most renters (25.9% rent).
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 | Suffield | Walpole | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,574 |
15,702Lowest |
26,388 |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Stoughton and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoughton and Suffield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoughton and Walpole 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 138% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
$104,794±$6kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 122% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$523,800±$28k 57% above U.S. |
| 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 63% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$2,050±$200 45% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$6,215Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #107 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Suffield School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Sharon High | Suffield High School | Walpole High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.9 |
11.3 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.