Compare towns
Webster vs Sharon vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k 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 | Webster | Sharon | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Highest |
1,577Lowest |
1,595 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$101,696±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$312,300±$27kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,500±$293Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$5,504Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Sharon School District | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.