Compare towns
Marion vs Bourne vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Bourne has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Marion | Bourne | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,310 |
1,806Lowest |
8,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4 35% above MA |
61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
51.5±1.8Lowest 29% above MA |
| Bourne and Marion 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% |
6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling 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% |
38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Sterling 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 |
$97,847±$32kLowest 6% below MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Marion and Sterling 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 |
$735,500±$156kHighest 31% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
| Bourne and Marion 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 |
— | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Marion 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 |
$3,835Lowest 36% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
12.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±20.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marion and Bourne 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | — | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.