Compare towns
Marlborough vs Sutton vs Upton vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has the most renters (44% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Upton | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 41,647Highest |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
| Upton and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Northborough 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%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough 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±$9kLowest 12% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$153,199±$19k 47% above MA |
| Upton and Northborough 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA |
| Northborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,871±$123 6% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,919±$269Highest 9% above MA |
| Northborough 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Marlborough and Upton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.