What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlborough has the most affordable homes ($513k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marlborough	Woburn
People
Population	41,647Lowest	41,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA	39.3±1.6Highest about the MA 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 MA: 19.4%	17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Marlborough and Woburn 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%	15.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Woburn 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%	46.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Woburn 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	$111,185±$9kHighest 7% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA	$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,871±$123Lowest 6% above MA	$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,747Highest 4% below MA	$5,354Lowest 11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	55.5%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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 MA: 10%	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56%Highest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	25 minLowest 13% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	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	#169 of 282 in MA
School district	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough	Woburn
High school in town	Assabet Valley Vocational High School	Woburn High
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.