Compare towns
Sterling vs Boylston 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 affordable homes ($499k median).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k median).
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 | Boylston | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Highest |
4,948Lowest |
5,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
48.2±2.3Lowest 21% above MA |
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%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Boylston 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% |
22%±4.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest 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 | $129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
| Marion and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
| Marion and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
| Boylston and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757 13% above MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest 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 | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston and Marion 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Berlin-Boylston | Marion |
| High school in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.