What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k median).

Middleton has the most people working from home (12.5%).

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	Marlow	Middleton
People
Population	855Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S.	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Marlow and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Marlow and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middleton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,455±$12kLowest 37% above U.S.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S.	$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average
	Middleton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,826Lowest 87% above U.S.	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middleton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Marlow School District	Middleton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.