Compare towns
Wayland vs Sharon vs Cochituate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($737k median).
Cochituate has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Sharon | Cochituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,914 |
18,574Highest |
6,471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±1.5 13% above MA |
42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA |
45.8±2.3Highest 15% above MA |
| Cochituate and Wayland 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% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.7Lowest 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Cochituate and Wayland 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% |
77% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$192,361±$18k 85% above MA |
| Wayland and Cochituate 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 |
$906,300±$42k 61% above MA |
| Wayland and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
$1,582±$649 10% below MA |
| Sharon and Cochituate 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%±16 MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
34.2%±14.9Lowest 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% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.1%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.9%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Cochituate 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 | #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 | 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.