Compare towns
Marion vs Ayer vs Edgartown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marion has the highest household income ($143k).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Edgartown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
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.
| Measure | Marion | Ayer | Edgartown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,310 |
8,645Highest |
5,278Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
51.9±8.6 30% above MA |
| Marion and Edgartown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
10%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 27.3%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±8.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Edgartown and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$125,236±$33k 20% above MA |
| Marion and Edgartown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $653,500±$47k 16% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,199,300±$262kHighest 113% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,796±$470Highest about the MA average |
| Edgartown and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,766Highest 4% below MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,641 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
30%±35.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
12 minLowest 60% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
25.6%±15.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Edgartown and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #242 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Ayer Shirley School District | Edgartown |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.