What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlborough has the most affordable homes ($267k median).

Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Middleton
People
Population	2,207Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46±9.2Highest 18% above U.S.	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Marlborough and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Marlborough and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middleton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,032±$9kLowest 14% below U.S.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,200±$35kLowest 20% below U.S.	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,133±$323Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average
	Middleton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,362Lowest 104% above U.S.	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marlborough and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	12.3%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middleton 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	—	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Marlborough School District	Middleton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.