Compare towns
Walpole 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
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Walpole | Marblehead | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
20,413 |
18,574Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.5±1 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
| Sharon and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$737,100±$33k 31% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523 42% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest 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 | 3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
87.7%Highest 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 | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Marblehead | Sharon |
| High school in town | Walpole 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.