Compare towns
Wayne vs Upton vs Harvard 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
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Upton | Harvard | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
8,189Highest |
6,927 |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Lowest 13% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Harvard 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%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% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Harvard 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. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$88,438±$44kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$288,800±$140kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424Highest 7% below U.S. |
$938±$252Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Harvard and Wayne 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. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,300 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±85.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% 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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
8 minLowest 71% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Harvard | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | The Bromfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
11.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.