Compare towns
Sharon vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Ware | Barnet | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
10,048Highest |
1,855 |
1,368Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% 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. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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±$17kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Whitingham 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. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Ware 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 |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,489 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% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Whitingham 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% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest 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. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% 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% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Ware | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 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.