Compare towns
Boylston vs Springfield vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Northborough has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Springfield | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
154,749Highest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
| Boylston and Northborough 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Northborough 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$153,199±$19kHighest 47% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA |
| 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 15% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,919±$269 9% above MA |
| 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 21% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,983Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston and Northborough 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Springfield | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Springfield Central High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.2Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.