Compare towns
Framingham vs Bow vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Framingham has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Bow has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Woburn has the most expensive homes ($674k 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.
| Measure | Framingham | Bow | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
8,335Lowest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.3±1.6 about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Framingham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,419±$6kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$111,185±$9k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$673,500±$17kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,221±$77Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 121% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,354Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woburn and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Framingham 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Bow School District | Woburn |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Bow High School | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.