Compare towns
Sharon vs Ayer vs Strafford
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%).
Strafford 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 | Ayer | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
8,645Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Ayer 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% 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% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.