Compare towns
Sharon vs Townsend vs Barnet vs Whitingham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Townsend | Barnet | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
9,100Highest |
1,855 |
1,368Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Whitingham 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Whitingham 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Sharon 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Barnet 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnet and Sharon 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | North Middlesex | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.