Compare towns
Sterling vs Ashburnham vs Marion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most renters (13.7% rent).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Sterling | Ashburnham | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Highest |
6,415 |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% 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 | $498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Ashburnham-Westminster | Marion |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.