Compare towns
Marion vs Putnam vs Wareham vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marion has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Wareham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Rochester has the most kids (20.1% 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 | Putnam | Wareham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,310Lowest |
9,292 |
23,302Highest |
5,837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
52.1±3.1 34% above U.S. |
46.5±6 20% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rochester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 77% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$90,383±$11k 12% above U.S. |
$120,273±$12k 49% above U.S. |
| Marion and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $653,500±$47kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
$599,100±$31k 80% above U.S. |
| Marion and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,504±$180Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
| Wareham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,766 85% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,341 39% above U.S. |
$6,530Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±23.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marion and Wareham 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #272 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Putnam School District | Wareham | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Wareham Senior High | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
8.6Lowest |
9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.