What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most people working from home (12.7%).

Madison has the highest household income ($103k).

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	Madison
People
Population	1,577Lowest	2,680Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S.	50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S.
	Madison and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Madison 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%	23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sharon and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9% U.S.: 35.7%	37.9% U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Madison 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±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.	$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.
	Madison 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.	$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Madison and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S.
	Madison and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.	$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Madison and Sharon 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%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sharon and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Sharon School District	Madison School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.