Compare towns
Marion vs Suffield vs Ashby 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 highest household income ($143k).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Suffield | Ashby | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,310 |
15,702Highest |
3,211Lowest |
5,837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
46.5±6 20% above U.S. |
| Marion and Ashby 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rochester and Ashby 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marion and Ashby 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% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marion and Suffield 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. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% 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. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% 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±$516Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,432±$743Highest about the U.S. average |
| Rochester and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,766Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$6,530Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marion and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marion and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #200 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Suffield School District | North Middlesex | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.