Compare towns
Sharon vs Andover vs Cavendish
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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 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 | Andover | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
36,652Highest |
1,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #68 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → |
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.