Compare towns
Wayne vs Lancaster vs South Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
South Thomaston has the shortest commute (16 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 | Wayne | Lancaster | South Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.3±11.3 40% above U.S. |
| Wayne and South Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and South Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.8%±8.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Thomaston and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±9.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Thomaston and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$86,838±$7kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$341,300±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$925±$633Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,442 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and South Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Wayne 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.