Compare towns
Rochester vs Sutton vs Wareham vs Marion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Wareham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Marion has the most people working from home (20.1%).
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 | Rochester | Sutton | Wareham | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,837 |
2,239Lowest |
23,302Highest |
5,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6Lowest 20% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
52.1±3.1 34% above U.S. |
53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12k 49% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$90,383±$11kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$143,092±$30kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Marion and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31k 80% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
$653,500±$47kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Marion and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,504±$180 6% above U.S. |
$1,176±$516Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530 109% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,341Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$5,766 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±23.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marion and Sutton 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | — | #272 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Kearsarge Regional School District | Wareham | Marion |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Kearsarge Regional High School | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
10.4Highest |
8.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.