Compare towns

Stoughton vs Beverly vs Sharon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoughton has the most affordable homes ($524k median).
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Sharon has the highest household income ($192k).

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.

MeasureStoughtonBeverlySharon
People
Population
29,225
42,665Highest
18,574Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+8%
MA: +7.4%
+5.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.7±1.9Highest
14% above MA
39±1.8Lowest
about the MA average
42.5±1
6% above MA
Kids under 18
18.5%±1.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.5%±1.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
27.2%±2.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
20.8%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.4%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
17.6%±2.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Stoughton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
53.4%
MA: 47.3%
76.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
11.3%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
5%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,794±$6kLowest
about the MA average
$106,044±$7k
about the MA average
$191,835±$19kHighest
85% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$523,800±$28kLowest
7% below MA
$650,300±$13k
16% above MA
$737,100±$33kHighest
31% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,050±$200
16% above MA
$1,771±$106Lowest
about the MA average
$2,310±$345Highest
31% above MA
Sharon and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,215Lowest
4% above MA
$6,836
14% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.4%±7.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
55.5%±7.2
MA: 51.8%
49%±16.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Stoughton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.4%
MA: 10%
9.4%Highest
MA: 10%
3.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.1%
MA: 62.5%
60.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
87.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1970Highest
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
15% above MA
30 minLowest
3% above MA
39 minHighest
33% above MA
Work from home
15.4%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.3%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
31.5%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #196 of 282 in MA #144 of 282 in MA #23 of 282 in MA
School district Stoughton Beverly Sharon
High school in town Stoughton High Beverly High Sharon High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Lowest
12.2Highest
11.9
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MA 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.