What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

Sharon has the most affordable homes ($737k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Westwood	Sharon
People
Population	16,318Lowest	18,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA	42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA
	Westwood and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sharon and Westwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Westwood and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	72.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	76.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sharon and Westwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$223,125±$33kHighest 115% above MA	$191,835±$19kLowest 85% above MA
	Westwood and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,041,500±$42kHighest 85% above MA	$737,100±$33kLowest 31% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,553±$323Highest 45% above MA	$2,310±$345Lowest 31% above MA
	Westwood and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8%	49%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Westwood and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 4% above MA	39 minHighest 33% above MA
Work from home	25.1%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sharon and Westwood 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	#16 of 282 in MA	#23 of 282 in MA
School district	Westwood	Sharon
High school in town	Westwood High	Sharon High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.