Compare towns
Marion vs Stoneham vs Merrimac
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 highest household income ($143k).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Merrimac has the most affordable homes ($553k 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 | Stoneham | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,310Lowest |
23,355Highest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
| Marion and Merrimac 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Merrimac 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Stoneham 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 |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
| Marion and Merrimac 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 |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$553,400±$38kLowest about the MA average |
| Stoneham 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 |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Stoneham | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.