Compare towns
Boylston vs Epping vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Northborough has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Boylston | Epping | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
7,430 |
15,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northborough and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28k 75% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$620,000±$24kHighest 86% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,919±$269 36% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 133% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$7,983Highest 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Epping School District | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Epping High School | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.