Compare towns
Wareham vs Ayer vs Marion
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k median).
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 | Ayer | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
8,645 |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
53.8±4Highest 35% 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 | 13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest 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+ | 27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest 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 | $90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
| Marion and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
| Wareham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$5,766Highest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Marion 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Ayer Shirley School District | Marion |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.