What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

Hopedale has the most kids (22.4% 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.

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

Measure	Boylston	Hopedale
People
Population	4,948Lowest	6,027Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA	44.4±5.2Lowest 11% above MA
	Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hopedale and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hopedale and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA	$115,722±$19kLowest 11% above MA
	Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average	$466,100±$28kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA	$1,788±$223Lowest about the MA average
	Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,266Highest 21% above MA	$6,868Lowest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±30.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hopedale and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Boylston and Hopedale 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	#125 of 282 in MA
School district	Berlin-Boylston	Hopedale
High school in town	Tahanto Regional High	Hopedale Jr Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.2Lowest
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.