Compare towns
Sharon vs Webster vs Hopkinton
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 oldest population (median age 42.5).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Webster | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574 |
17,748Lowest |
19,358Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1Highest 6% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.8±1.6 about the MA average |
| Sharon and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
29.5%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hopkinton 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
77.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$19k 85% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$222,801±$22kHighest 114% above MA |
| Hopkinton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $737,100±$33k 31% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$802,700±$39kHighest 43% above MA |
| Hopkinton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,310±$345 31% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,641±$361Highest 50% above MA |
| Hopkinton and Sharon 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.4%±14.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hopkinton 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 33% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hopkinton and Sharon 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #5 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Webster | Hopkinton |
| High school in town | Sharon High | Bartlett High School | Hopkinton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
11.6Lowest |
14.4Highest |
| 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.