Compare towns
Sharon vs Needham vs Cavendish vs Barnet
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 renters (20.3% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k 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.
| Measure | Sharon | Needham | Cavendish | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
32,459Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Barnet 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Barnet 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,489 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Needham | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 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.