Compare towns
Ashby vs Marion vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Sterling has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Ashby | Marion | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
5,310 |
8,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Lowest 26% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Marion and Sterling 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Marion | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.