Compare towns
Marion vs Gardner vs Wareham 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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Wareham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Gardner | Wareham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,310Lowest |
21,148 |
23,302Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% 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% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 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% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% 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±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516 33% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Wareham 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Gardner | Wareham | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.