What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

Walpole has the shortest commute (23 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sharon	Walpole
People
Population	1,577Lowest	3,690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S.	46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S.
	Walpole and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Walpole and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Walpole 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Walpole and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S.	$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average
	Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S.	$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average	$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S.
	Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S.	$6,078Highest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Walpole and Sharon 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%	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sharon and Walpole 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	—	#27 of 120 in NH
School district	Sharon School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.