What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Upton has the highest household income ($156k).

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	Upton
People
Population	41,647Highest	8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA	46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Upton 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%	20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Upton 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%	53.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Marlborough and Upton 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	$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA	$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average
	Upton and Marlborough 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	$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,747Lowest 4% below MA	$8,376Highest 40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±31Lowest 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%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Upton 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	#46 of 282 in MA
School district	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town	Assabet Valley Vocational High School	Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.