Compare towns
Hanson 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
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
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 | Hanson | Marion | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
5,310Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% 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 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±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+ | 42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
| Marion and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
| Hanson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 7% above MA |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Marion | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.