What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

Sharon has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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	Stoughton	Sharon
People
Population	29,225Highest	18,574Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA	42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stoughton and Sharon 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%	76.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoughton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average	$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA	$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,050±$200Lowest 16% above MA	$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	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%	49%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Stoughton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 15% above MA	39 minHighest 33% above MA
Work from home	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#196 of 282 in MA	#23 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoughton	Sharon
High school in town	Stoughton High	Sharon High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

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.