What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northborough has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Northborough	Boylston
People
Population	6,392Highest	4,948Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±3.1Highest 22% above MA	48.2±2.3Lowest 21% above MA
	Northborough and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4%	18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northborough and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Boylston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Northborough and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,839±$23kLowest 29% above MA	$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA
	Boylston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$560,500±$35kLowest about the MA average	$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average
	Boylston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,135±$202Lowest 36% below MA	$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,432Highest 24% above MA	$7,266Lowest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±22.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Boylston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Lowest MA: 10%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	25.3%±11.4Highest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northborough and Boylston 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	#35 of 282 in MA	#72 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Berlin-Boylston
High school in town	—	Tahanto Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.1
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.