What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).

Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Middleton
People
Population	1,577Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S.	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Sharon and Middleton 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%	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sharon and Middleton 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%	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S.	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average
	Middleton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S.	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middleton 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%	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sharon and Middleton 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	—	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Sharon School District	Middleton
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.