Compare towns
Sharon vs Walpole vs Windham vs Walpole
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 most people working from home (31.5%).
Walpole has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($627k median).
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 | Walpole | Windham | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,574 |
26,388Highest |
16,038 |
6,461Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Sharon 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% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 138% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$154,263±$19kLowest 91% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Windham 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. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$626,600±$25kLowest 88% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,310±$345 63% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,184±$377Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,148Lowest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.4%±4.9 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | Sharon High | Walpole High | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
11.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.