Compare towns
Sharon vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Needham | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442Lowest |
32,459Highest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 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%±8.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Sharon 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,125±$19k 40% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,900±$38k 43% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1k 3% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Needham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,655 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Needham | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.