What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlborough has the most affordable homes ($513k median).

Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).

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	Marlborough	Acton
People
Population	41,647Highest	24,155Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA	44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Acton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Acton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	79.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Acton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,968±$9kLowest 12% below MA	$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA	$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,871±$123Lowest 6% above MA	$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA
	Acton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,747Lowest 4% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marlborough and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest MA: 10%	3.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974 10 yrs newer than MA	1974 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#215 of 282 in MA	#13 of 282 in MA
School district	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough	Acton-Boxborough
High school in town	Assabet Valley Vocational High School	Acton-Boxborough Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	13.5Highest
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.