What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most affordable homes ($737k median).

Wayland has the most expensive homes ($978k 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	Sharon	Wayland
People
Population	18,574Highest	13,914Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA	45±1.5Highest 13% above MA
	Wayland and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	24.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sharon and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Wayland and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sharon and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$191,835±$19kLowest 85% above MA	$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA
	Wayland and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$737,100±$33kLowest 31% above MA	$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA	$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA
	Sharon and Wayland 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	49%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8%	42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sharon and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	4.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	87.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 33% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	31.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wayland and Sharon 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	#23 of 282 in MA	#18 of 282 in MA
School district	Sharon	Wayland
High school in town	Sharon High	Wayland High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.9Lowest
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.