What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the most affordable homes ($376k median).

Marion has the most people working from home (20.1%).

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	Hancock	Marion
People
Population	752Lowest	5,310Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±11.1Lowest 18% above MA	53.8±4Highest 35% above MA
	Marion and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4%	16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hancock and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±5.3 MA: 17.9%	27.3%±5.7 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Marion and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,250±$26kLowest 7% below MA	$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA
	Marion and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,500±$21kLowest 33% below MA	$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA	$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA
	Hancock and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,018Lowest 83% below MA	$5,766Highest 4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±36.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marion and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest MA: 10%	9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 25% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	10.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marion and Hancock 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	—	#141 of 282 in MA
School district	Hancock	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.