What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berkley has the most kids (21.2% under 18).

Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Berkley	Marion
People
Population	6,829Highest	5,310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.4±4.1Lowest 9% above MA	53.8±4Highest 35% above MA
Kids under 18	21.2%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%	16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Berkley and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Marion and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA	$143,092±$30kLowest 38% above MA
	Berkley and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$511,200±$45kLowest 9% below MA	$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,176±$516 33% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,018Highest about the MA average	$5,766Lowest 4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marion and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Lowest MA: 10%	9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	90.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marion and Berkley 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	#155 of 282 in MA	#141 of 282 in MA
School district	Berkley	Marion
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.