What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlborough has the highest household income ($69k).

Stow has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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	Stow
People
Population	2,207Highest	535Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	46±9.2Lowest 18% above U.S.	57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S.
	Stow and Marlborough 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%	15.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Marlborough and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stow and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stow 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±$9kHighest 14% below U.S.	$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S.
	Marlborough and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,200±$35kLowest 20% below U.S.	$326,400±$42kHighest about the U.S. average
	Stow and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,133±$323 20% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,362Highest 104% above U.S.	$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marlborough and Stow 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%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	51 minHighest 95% above U.S.
Work from home	12.3%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stow and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Marlborough School District	—
High school 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.