Compare towns
Sterling vs Woonsocket 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
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Woonsocket | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
43,521Highest |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marion and Woonsocket 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$653,500±$47kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,766 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marion and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Marion |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.