Compare towns
Marlborough vs Sutton vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Sutton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,647 |
9,452Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marlborough and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Salem 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,968±$9k 12% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
| Salem and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,871±$123Highest 6% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Marlborough and Salem 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Salem 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | Sutton | Salem |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | Sutton High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
12.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.