Compare towns
Sharon vs Windsor Locks vs Hopkinton
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 oldest population (median age 42.5).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Hopkinton has the highest household income ($223k).
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 | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574 |
12,579Lowest |
19,358Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.8±1.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
77.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±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±$19k 138% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$222,801±$22kHighest 176% above U.S. |
| 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 122% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$802,700±$39kHighest 141% above U.S. |
| 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 63% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,641±$361Highest 87% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.4%±14.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hopkinton and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #5 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Windsor Locks School District | Hopkinton |
| High school in town | Sharon High | Windsor Locks High School | Hopkinton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
8.9Lowest |
14.4Highest |
| 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.