Compare towns
Sterling vs Wareham vs Marion vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wareham has the most renters (16.5% rent).
Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k median).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Wareham | Marion | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,183 |
23,302Highest |
5,310Lowest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
48.3±4.6Lowest 21% above MA |
| Marion and Wareham 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% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Sterling 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% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Wareham 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Wareham 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 |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
| 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 |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Sterling 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$5,766 4% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Wareham | Marion | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.