Compare towns
Marion vs Worcester vs Wareham vs Pocasset
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 highest household income ($143k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Pocasset has the oldest population (median age 62.9).
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 | Worcester | Wareham | Pocasset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,310 |
207,055Highest |
23,302 |
2,247Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4 35% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
62.9±5.6Highest 57% above MA |
| Pocasset 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% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
8.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
45.3%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±5.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester and Pocasset 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 |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$84,583±$26k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $653,500±$47k 16% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$709,900±$167kHighest 26% above MA |
| Pocasset and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516 33% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$687±$250Lowest 61% below MA |
| Wareham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,766Highest 4% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,807 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
86.9%±31.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pocasset 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
18.5%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Marion and Pocasset 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marion | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Wareham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | Wareham Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.