Compare towns
Stoughton vs Temple vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
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.
| Measure | Stoughton | Temple | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,225Highest |
1,363Lowest |
18,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.5±1Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Temple and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoughton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$6k 30% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$191,835±$19kHighest 138% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,800±$28k 57% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$737,100±$33kHighest 122% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,050±$200 45% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,310±$345Highest 63% above U.S. |
| 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 99% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
37 min 39% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #196 of 282 in MA | — | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoughton | Contoocook Valley School District | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.