What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayland has the most expensive homes ($978k median).

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	Wayland	Sharon
People
Population	13,914Lowest	18,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±1.5Highest 13% above MA	42.5±1Lowest 6% 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	24.3%±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%±2.4Lowest 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+	78.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	76.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.2Highest 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	$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA	$191,835±$19kLowest 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	$737,100±$33kLowest 31% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA	$2,310±$345Highest 31% above 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	42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8%	49%±16.2Highest 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	4.9%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	39 minHighest 33% above MA
Work from home	35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	31.5%±4.3Lowest 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	#18 of 282 in MA	#23 of 282 in MA
School district	Wayland	Sharon
High school in town	Wayland High School	Sharon High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	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.