Compare towns
Sharon vs Ayer vs Pomfret
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 affordable homes ($347k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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 | Ayer | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
8,645Highest |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.4±12.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret and Sharon 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% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$84,229±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$399,200±$144k 20% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,170±$98Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,722Highest 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24%±22.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.3%±10.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret and Ayer 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.