Compare towns
Walpole vs Middleton 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%).
Middleton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Middleton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
9,816Lowest |
18,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
42.5±1 6% above MA |
| Middleton 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 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
18.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Middleton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$16k 65% above MA |
$167,402±$29kLowest 61% above MA |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
| 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±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$737,100±$33k 31% above MA |
| Middleton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$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 | $8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Middleton | Sharon |
| High school in town | Walpole High | None in town | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 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.