Compare towns
Sterling vs Ware vs Marion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
10,048Highest |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest 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±$27k 24% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,176±$516 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,766 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Ware | Marion |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.