Compare towns
Wayne vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Islesboro
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 most people working from home (26.2%).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 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 | Sturbridge | Sutton | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
9,960Highest |
9,452 |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
57±8.4Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Islesboro and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Islesboro 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% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Sturbridge 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. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$88,438±$44kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$288,800±$140kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$938±$252Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,300 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±85.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
8 minLowest 71% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Sutton 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.