Compare towns
Marion vs Salem 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 the most expensive homes ($654k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,310Lowest |
44,795Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
| Marion and Sterling 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Marion 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 |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% 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 |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
| Salem and Sterling 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Salem | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.