Compare towns
Marion vs Suffield vs Sterling
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 expensive homes ($654k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Suffield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,310Lowest |
15,702Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marion and Sterling 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±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
| 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 96% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$6,757Highest 117% 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% |
46%±23.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest 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 | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Suffield School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.