What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).

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	Webster
People
Population	1,577Lowest	2,227Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S.	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Sharon and Webster 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%	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster 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%	19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster 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±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Webster and Sharon 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.	$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average
	Sharon and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Sharon 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.	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster 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%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Webster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Sharon School District	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.