What stands out worked out from the figures below

Framingham has the most expensive homes ($627k median).

Marlborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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	Framingham	Marlborough
People
Population	72,399Highest	41,647Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1 6% below MA	37.5±1.3 6% below MA
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Framingham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.1%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Framingham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA	$91,968±$9kLowest 12% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA	$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA	$1,871±$123Lowest 6% above MA
	Framingham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Highest 15% above MA	$5,747Lowest 4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marlborough 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 MA: 10%	9.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	56%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 4% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Framingham and Marlborough 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	#215 of 282 in MA
School district	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough
High school in town	Framingham High School	Assabet Valley Vocational High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.