Compare towns
Sharon vs Sutton vs Strafford 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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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 | Sutton | Strafford | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
9,452Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Sutton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Strafford 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Sutton | Strafford School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.