Compare towns
Framingham vs Ogunquit vs Northampton vs Southborough
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Southborough has the highest household income ($197k).
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 | Ogunquit | Northampton | Southborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
1,379Lowest |
30,962 |
10,493 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2 6% above U.S. |
43.6±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
27%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Southborough and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$196,808±$16kHighest 144% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$821,100±$51k 147% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Southborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
— | $1,439±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,496±$309Highest 77% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 121% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,680 82% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Southborough 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 | — | #159 of 282 in MA | #8 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | — | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Southborough |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | — | Northampton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.