Compare towns
Wayne vs Upton vs Mendon 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%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Mendon | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
8,189Highest |
6,325 |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest 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±4.4Lowest 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% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$88,438±$44kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Upton and Mendon 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$288,800±$140kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Upton 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. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$938±$252Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% 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% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±85.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1% 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% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer 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. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
8 minLowest 71% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.