Compare towns
Wayne vs Sutton vs Lancaster 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
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Sutton | Lancaster | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
9,452Highest |
8,606 |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$88,438±$44kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$288,800±$140kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$938±$252Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,300 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±85.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
8 minLowest 71% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±8.8Lowest 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Sutton | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.