Compare towns
Sharon vs Windsor Locks vs Norwood
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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574 |
12,579Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sharon and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $737,100±$33kHighest 122% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,310±$345Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,116±$83 50% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Norwood 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,111 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #23 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | — | — |
| High school in town | Sharon High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.