Compare towns
Sharon vs Sutton vs Walpole 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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Walpole has the most renters (18.5% 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 | Sutton | Walpole | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,574 |
9,452 |
26,388Highest |
6,461Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
45.1±2.7Highest 13% above MA |
| Walpole and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±3.7Lowest 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%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Walpole and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
65.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole 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 |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$154,263±$19k 48% 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$626,600±$25k 11% 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 |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,184±$377 24% 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 |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$7,148 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
34.9%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sharon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 33% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.4%±4.9 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Sutton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | — |
| High school in town | Sharon High | Sutton High School | Walpole High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.