What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

Sharon has the most people working from home (12.7%).

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	Stoddard	Sharon
People
Population	1,072Lowest	1,577Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53±4Highest 36% above U.S.	45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Stoddard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sharon and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sharon and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoddard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S.	$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Stoddard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average	$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Sharon and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average
	Sharon and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S.	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoddard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sharon and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stoddard School District	Sharon 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.