Compare towns
Sterling vs Thompson 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
Sterling has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
9,337Highest |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Lowest 32% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.8±4 38% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marion and Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$27k 60% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$653,500±$47kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,176±$516 17% below U.S. |
| 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 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,766 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marion and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Thompson School District | Marion |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.