Compare towns
Marion vs Wareham vs Worcester vs Sterling
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 most expensive homes ($654k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Wareham | Worcester | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,310Lowest |
23,302 |
207,055Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| 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 16% above MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Wareham 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Wareham | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.