What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sterling	Marion
People
Population	8,183Highest	5,310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±1.8Lowest 29% 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%	16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sterling and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4Lowest 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%	46.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Lowest 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	$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±$48kLowest 11% below MA	$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA	$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA
	Sterling and Marion 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	$5,766Lowest 4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Lowest 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%	9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±6.2Lowest 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	#141 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Marion
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.