Compare towns
Sharon vs Lancaster vs Chatham
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 homeowners (93.1%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Chatham has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Lancaster | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442 |
8,606Highest |
430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,125±$19k 40% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$66,042±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,900±$38k 43% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$362,900±$42kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— |
| Lancaster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$3,690Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.