Compare towns
Marion vs Sterling vs Upton 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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Wareham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Sterling | Upton | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,310Lowest |
8,183 |
8,189 |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% 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% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sterling 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% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
| Upton 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±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
| Marion and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516 33% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
| Sterling and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,766 4% below MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Wachusett | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wareham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.