Compare towns
Wayland vs Acton vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayland has the most expensive homes ($978k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Sharon has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Wayland | Acton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,914Lowest |
24,155Highest |
18,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±1.5Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Wayland and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8Highest 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+ | 18.7%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wayland and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.8% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sharon and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$191,835±$19k 85% 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 | $978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$737,100±$33kLowest 31% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
| Sharon and Acton 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 |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sharon and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.1%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Wayland 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 | #18 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wayland | Acton-Boxborough | Sharon |
| High school in town | Wayland High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.