Compare towns
Sharon vs Natick vs Peterborough
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%).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Peterborough has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Natick | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442Lowest |
36,873Highest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Peterborough 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% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Natick 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% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,125±$19k 40% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Natick 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. |
$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1k 3% above U.S. |
$2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Natick and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,274Lowest 165% above U.S. |
$8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$8,655 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Natick and Peterborough 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #48 of 282 in MA | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Natick | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Natick High | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| 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.