Compare towns
Sterling vs Gray 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
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Gray | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
8,429Highest |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marion and Gray 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 60% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$143,092±$30kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| 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 50% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$653,500±$47kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,176±$516Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,766 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marion and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Marion |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.