Compare towns
Marion vs Sutton vs Wareham 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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Sutton | Wareham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,310 |
2,239Lowest |
23,302Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% above U.S. |
52.1±3.1 34% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%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% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$30kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$90,383±$11kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
| Marion and Sutton 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. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$1,504±$180 6% above U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,766 85% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,341Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±23.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marion and Wareham 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marion and Sterling 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 | — | #272 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Kearsarge Regional School District | Wareham | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.