What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has the most people working from home (40.5%).

Marlborough has the most renters (44% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bolton	Marlborough
People
Population	5,737Lowest	41,647Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.7Highest 3% above MA	37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA
Kids under 18	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bolton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Bolton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Marlborough and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA	$91,968±$9kLowest 12% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA	$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA	$1,871±$123Highest 6% above MA
	Marlborough and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$5,747Lowest 4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marlborough and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	9.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	56%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#28 of 282 in MA	#215 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough
High school in town	Nashoba Regional	Assabet Valley Vocational High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.