Compare towns
Sharon vs Townsend vs Cavendish 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).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Townsend | Cavendish | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
9,100Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,368 |
| 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%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. |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Whitingham 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%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 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. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below 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±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% 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. |
$3,948Lowest 27% 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% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Townsend 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% |
6.3% 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% |
81.3% 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. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below 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% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | 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 | 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.