What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlborough has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).

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	Berlin
People
Population	41,647Highest	3,378Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA	49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Berlin 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	$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA	$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,871±$123Lowest 6% above MA	$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA
	Berlin 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	$7,116Highest 19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marlborough and Berlin 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%	5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 17% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#215 of 282 in MA	#61 of 282 in MA
School district	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough	Berlin-Boylston
High school in town	Assabet Valley Vocational High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1	—
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.