Compare towns
Sharon vs Stoneham vs Barnet vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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 | Stoneham | Barnet | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
23,355Highest |
1,855 |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
53.4±12.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Barnet 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% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Sharon 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% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret and Barnet 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% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$84,229±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$399,200±$144k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,170±$98 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,722Highest 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24%±22.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Stoneham 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.3%±10.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret and Stoneham 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Stoneham | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.