What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Beverly has the most people working from home (22.3%).

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	Marlborough	Beverly
People
Population	41,647Lowest	42,665Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA	39±1.8Highest about the MA average
	Beverly and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Marlborough and Beverly 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%	19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	53.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,968±$9kLowest 12% below MA	$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average
	Beverly and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA	$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,871±$123Highest 6% above MA	$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average
	Marlborough and Beverly 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	$6,836Highest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marlborough and Beverly 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%	9.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56%Lowest MA: 62.5%	60.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest 3% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#215 of 282 in MA	#144 of 282 in MA
School district	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough	Beverly
High school in town	Assabet Valley Vocational High School	Beverly High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	12.2Highest
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.