Compare towns
Marion vs West Wareham vs Ashby
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).
West Wareham has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Ashby has the youngest population (median age 50.5).
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 | West Wareham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,310Highest |
2,257Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4 35% above MA |
57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
50.5±3Lowest 26% above MA |
| West Wareham 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% |
14.8%±7.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashby 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%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| West Wareham and Marion 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% |
18.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±4.7 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and West 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 38% above MA |
$58,560±$15kLowest 44% below MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Marion and Ashby 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 |
$230,800±$104kLowest 59% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
— | $1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
| Ashby 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 |
$4,765Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,034Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8 MA: 51.8% |
90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| West Wareham and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
19.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±13.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Marion and Ashby 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | — | North Middlesex |
| 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.