Compare towns
Marlborough vs Plainfield vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Woburn has the most expensive homes ($674k 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.
| Measure | Marlborough | Plainfield | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,647 |
15,141Lowest |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1.3 4% below U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.3±1.6Highest about the U.S. average |
| Woburn 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,968±$9k 14% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$111,185±$9kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,100±$28k 54% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$673,500±$17kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,871±$123 32% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,221±$77Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,747Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,354 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlborough and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marlborough and Woburn 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | Plainfield School District | Woburn |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | Plainfield High School | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
10.3 |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.