What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hatfield has the most homeowners (74.6%).

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	Hatfield
People
Population	41,647Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hatfield 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±$9kHighest 12% below MA	$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA
	Marlborough and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$513,100±$28kHighest 9% below MA	$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,871±$123Highest 6% above MA	$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,747Highest 4% below MA	$4,930Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marlborough and Hatfield 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%	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	20 minLowest 30% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Marlborough and Hatfield 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	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough	Hatfield
High school in town	Assabet Valley Vocational High School	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Highest	6.1Lowest
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.