What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marion	Pepperell
People
Population	5,310Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±4Highest 35% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell 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%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Marion and Pepperell 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	$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA
	Marion and Pepperell 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	$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA	$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA
	Pepperell and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,766Lowest 4% below MA	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marion and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest MA: 10%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Marion and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Marion	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.