Compare towns
Marion vs Washington 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
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 | Washington | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,310 |
526Lowest |
8,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4 35% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
51.5±1.8Lowest 29% above MA |
| Washington and Marion 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% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 38% above MA |
$95,278±$12kLowest 8% 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 |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
— | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling 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 |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest 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 | — | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | — | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.