Compare towns
Wareham vs Alstead 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
Wareham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Marion has the most people working from home (20.1%).
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 | Wareham | Alstead | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
1,551Lowest |
5,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1Lowest 34% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
53.8±4 38% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $90,383±$11k 12% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$143,092±$30kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$653,500±$47kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180Highest 6% above U.S. |
— | $1,176±$516Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Wareham and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
$5,766Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marion and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marion and Wareham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | — | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Marion |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.