What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sharon	Lowell
People
Population	1,577Highest	1,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT	32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT
	Sharon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9%	30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Lowell 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 VT: 21.4%	12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7%
	Lowell and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT
	Sharon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT	$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT	$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Highest 17% above VT	$2,810Lowest 44% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	26.3%±92.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Lowell and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	9.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% above VT	55 minHighest 135% above VT
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9%	7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Sharon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Sharon School District	Lowell School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.