Compare towns
Sharon vs Ware 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 expensive homes ($476k median).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Shelburne has the shortest commute (25 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 | Ware | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442Lowest |
10,048Highest |
530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$93,125±$18k 15% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$280,200±$45kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,130±$62 20% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Shelburne 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. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,801Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
10%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Sharon 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Sharon 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ware | — |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.