What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

Framingham has the most expensive homes ($627k median).

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	Framingham
People
Population	41,647Lowest	72,399Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1.3 6% below MA	37.5±1 6% below MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Framingham 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%	15.1%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Framingham 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%	48.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,968±$9kLowest 12% below MA	$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA	$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,871±$123Lowest 6% above MA	$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA
	Framingham 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	$6,884Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marlborough and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest MA: 10%	10.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56%Highest MA: 62.5%	54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Framingham and Marlborough 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	#215 of 282 in MA	#229 of 282 in MA
School district	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Assabet Valley Vocational High School	Framingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	12.7Highest
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.