Compare towns
Marion vs Ayer vs Wareham vs Rochester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Marion | Ayer | Wareham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,310Lowest |
8,645 |
23,302Highest |
5,837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
46.5±6 16% 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 | 16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2 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+ | 46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5Lowest 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 | $143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$120,273±$12k 16% above MA |
| Marion and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$599,100±$31k 7% above MA |
| Marion and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,432±$743 19% below MA |
| Wareham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,766 4% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,530Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest 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 | 9% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Ayer Shirley School District | Wareham | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Wareham Senior High | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
8.6Lowest |
9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.