Compare towns
Ayer vs Marion vs Wareham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k median).
Wareham has the shortest commute (28 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 | Ayer | Marion | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
5,310Lowest |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
| Marion and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
| Wareham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$5,766Highest 4% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Marion 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Marion | Wareham |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.