What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hopedale has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Hopedale	Boylston
People
Population	6,027Highest	4,948Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±5.2Lowest 11% above MA	48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA
	Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%	18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hopedale and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	54.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hopedale and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,722±$19kLowest 11% above MA	$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA
	Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,100±$28kLowest 17% below MA	$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,788±$223Lowest about the MA average	$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA
	Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,868Lowest 15% above MA	$7,266Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±30.9Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hopedale and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% above MA	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Boylston and Hopedale 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	#125 of 282 in MA	#72 of 282 in MA
School district	Hopedale	Berlin-Boylston
High school in town	Hopedale Jr Sr High	Tahanto Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Lowest	11.1Highest
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.