Compare towns
Marion vs Lee vs Wareham 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 most kids (16.7% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Wareham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
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 | Lee | Wareham | Edgartown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,310 |
5,719 |
23,302Highest |
5,278Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4 35% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
51.9±8.6Lowest 30% above MA |
| Lee and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
10%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marion and Wareham 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±8.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Edgartown 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% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±3.2Lowest 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$1,199,300±$262kHighest 113% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,796±$470Highest about the MA average |
| Edgartown and Wareham 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$5,641 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
30%±35.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
87% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
12 minLowest 60% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.6%±15.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Edgartown 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #242 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Lee | Wareham | Edgartown |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Highest |
8.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 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.