Compare towns
Marion vs North Reading vs Wareham
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%).
North Reading has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k 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 | North Reading | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,310Lowest |
15,765 |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| North Reading and Marion 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 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% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 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±$30k 38% above MA |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
| North Reading and Marion 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 |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
| North Reading 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 |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,766 4% below MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | North Reading | Wareham |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.