Compare towns
Sharon vs Windsor Locks 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 highest household income ($192k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Walpole has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,574 |
12,579Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4% 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%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Walpole 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 |
$171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
| 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 122% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
| 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 63% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sharon | Windsor Locks School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Sharon High | Windsor Locks High School | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.