What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k median).

Northborough has the most affordable homes ($620k median).

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	Cohasset	Northborough
People
Population	8,427Lowest	15,750Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±4.4Lowest 10% above MA	45±3Highest 13% above MA
	Northborough and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Cohasset and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Cohasset and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	65.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northborough and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$199,306±$53kHighest 92% above MA	$153,199±$19kLowest 47% above MA
	Cohasset and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA	$620,000±$24kLowest 10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA	$1,919±$269Lowest 9% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,983Lowest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±15.5Highest MA: 51.8%	50.1%±16.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Cohasset and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest MA: 10%	3.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 28% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	25.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%	22.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Cohasset 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	#41 of 282 in MA	#35 of 282 in MA
School district	Cohasset	Northborough · Northboro-Southboro
High school in town	Cohasset High School	Algonquin Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	10.8Highest
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.