Compare towns
Stoughton vs Stow 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).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Sharon has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Stoughton | Stow | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,225Highest |
7,165Lowest |
18,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Stoughton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sharon and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoughton and Stow 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% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2 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 |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
| Sharon and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA |
| Sharon and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,050±$200 16% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Stow 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 15% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #196 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoughton | Nashoba | Sharon |
| High school in town | Stoughton High | None in town | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.