Compare towns
Sharon vs Lancaster vs Shelburne
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 kids (22.4% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Shelburne has the most affordable homes ($280k 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 | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442Lowest |
8,606Highest |
530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.3±11Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Sharon 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%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne and Sharon 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% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shelburne 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. |
$93,125±$18kLowest 15% above 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. |
$280,200±$45kLowest 16% below 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±$1k 3% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,130±$62Lowest 20% below 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. |
$3,801Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
10%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±6.3Lowest 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 | 5 photos → | 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.