Compare towns
Sharon vs Needham vs Royalton
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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Royalton 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Royalton 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalton and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Royalton 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% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Needham | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.