Compare towns
Wareham vs Lee vs Sutton 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Wareham | Lee | Sutton | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
5,719 |
9,452 |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
53.8±4 35% above MA |
| Lee 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 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee 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 MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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±$11k 13% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
| Sutton and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
| Wareham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341 28% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,766 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Lee | Sutton | Marion |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | Lee Middle/High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
9.2 |
12.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 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.