Compare towns
Sudbury vs Marblehead vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sudbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($737k median).
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 | Sudbury | Marblehead | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,306 |
20,413Highest |
18,574Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.1Lowest 6% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.5±1 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Sudbury and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sharon and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $236,250±$17kHighest 127% above MA |
$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA |
$191,835±$19k 85% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $988,900±$42kHighest 76% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$737,100±$33kLowest 31% above MA |
| Sudbury and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,445±$895Lowest 18% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
| Work from home | 33%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Sudbury 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 | #15 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury | Marblehead | Sharon |
| High school in town | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High | Marblehead High | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.7Lowest |
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.