Compare towns
Marlborough vs Worcester vs Woburn
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 kids (20.8% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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.
| Measure | Marlborough | Worcester | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,647Lowest |
207,055Highest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1.3 6% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marlborough and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,968±$9k 12% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$111,185±$9kHighest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,100±$28k 9% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,871±$123 6% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,747Highest 4% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,354 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5 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% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Woburn |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | South High Community | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.