Compare towns
Walpole vs Exeter 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
Walpole has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
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.
| Measure | Walpole | Exeter | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
16,151Lowest |
18,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$191,835±$19kHighest 138% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$737,100±$33kHighest 122% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,310±$345Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523Lowest 173% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sharon and Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sharon |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Exeter High School | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 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.