Compare towns
Sterling vs Townsend vs Marion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
9,100Highest |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
| Sterling and Townsend 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | North Middlesex | Marion |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.