Compare towns
Sharon vs Townsend vs Cavendish 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
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Townsend | Cavendish | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
9,100Highest |
1,242 |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
53.4±12.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58%Highest 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% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Cavendish 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. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$84,229±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Cavendish 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. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$399,200±$144k 20% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,170±$98 17% 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,722Highest 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
24%±22.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Cavendish 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 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 |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.3%±10.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret and Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.