Compare towns
Marlborough vs Windham vs Framingham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Framingham has the most expensive homes ($627k 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 | Windham | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,647 |
19,188Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1.3Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Framingham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,968±$9kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
| Windham and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,100±$28k 54% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,871±$123 32% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Framingham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,747 84% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlborough and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Framingham and Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | RSU 14 | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | Windham High School | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.1 |
12.7Highest |
| 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.