Compare towns

Marion vs Townsend vs Weweantic

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%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Weweantic has the shortest commute (22 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.

MeasureMarionTownsendWeweantic
People
Population
5,310
9,100Highest
1,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.3%
MA: +7.4%
+0.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
53.8±4Highest
35% above MA
40.9±3.3Lowest
about the MA average
44.4±13.9
11% above MA
Marion and Weweantic 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%
21%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
11.2%±7.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Townsend 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%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.3%±6.9
MA: 17.9%
Marion and Weweantic 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
MA: 47.3%
35.5%
MA: 47.3%
30.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±4.3
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
10.1%±8.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Weweantic and Marion 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
$121,528±$23k
17% above MA
$62,481±$39kLowest
40% below MA
Marion and Townsend 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
$433,200±$22k
23% below MA
$420,800±$42kLowest
25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,176±$516Lowest
33% below MA
$1,469±$313Highest
17% below MA
—
Townsend and Marion 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
$6,031Highest
about the MA average
$3,764Lowest
37% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
75.8%±26.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8
MA: 51.8%
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Marion and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%Highest
MA: 10%
8.9%
MA: 10%
0%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
82%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
88.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962Lowest
2 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1973
9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
15% above MA
37 minHighest
27% above MA
22 minLowest
24% below MA
Work from home
20.1%±8.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8
MA: 18.6%
3.6%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Marion and Townsend 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 #136 of 282 in MA —
School district Marion North Middlesex —
High school in town None in town North Middlesex Regional —
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1
—
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.