Compare towns
Walpole vs Windsor vs Sharon vs Milton
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).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Sharon has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k 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 | Walpole | Windsor | Sharon | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388 |
29,468Highest |
18,574Lowest |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±1.9Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
| Windsor 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% |
19.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
$104,725±$8kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$191,835±$19kHighest 138% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15k 134% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Milton 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. |
$305,200±$11kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$737,100±$33k 122% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$1,681±$62 19% above U.S. |
$2,310±$345Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% 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. |
$5,351Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sharon and Milton 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% |
6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sharon and Milton 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #23 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Sharon | Milton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Windsor High School | Sharon High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.2Lowest |
11.9 |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.