Compare towns
Sharon vs Townsend vs Strafford vs Cavendish
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).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Strafford | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
9,100Highest |
1,372 |
1,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Cavendish 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% 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% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Strafford 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. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% 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% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | North Middlesex | Strafford School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| 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 | None yet | 18 photos → |
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.