What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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	Nelson
People
Population	1,577Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S.	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Sharon and Nelson 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%	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson 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%	24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sharon and Nelson 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%	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sharon and Nelson 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.	$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S.
	Nelson 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±$37kHighest 4% above U.S.	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average
	Sharon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Sharon and Nelson 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.	$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nelson and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Sharon School District	Nelson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.