Compare towns
Boylston vs Rye 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
5,611 |
15,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northborough and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northborough 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±$28k 75% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kLowest 74% 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±$47kLowest 74% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% 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 | $7,266Lowest 133% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$7,983Highest 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northborough and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Rye School District | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | None in town | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.