Compare towns
Walpole vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
10,144Lowest |
18,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%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% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% 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. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% 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. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% 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 | $8,523 173% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sharon and Williston 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% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.