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Living in
Marlborough.
About
Life in Marlborough
Living in Marlborough means joining a solidly middle-class suburban community that's built around car commuting and office park employment. The median home price hovers near $513,000 with median household income around $92,000, so it's accessible compared to inner Boston but pricier than rural alternatives. Schools are solid with multiple public elementary schools, a middle school, and Marlborough High School serving the district.
Marlborough at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Foreign-Born
30.8%
Broadband Internet
93.2%
of households
Population Growth
+2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics30.8% foreign-born, most often from Brazil
Who lives in Marlborough: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Marlborough, the largest foreign-born group is from Brazil (43.0%), and 20.5% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
20.8%
of residents
65 and Older
14.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.7%
of households
Married Couples
46.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 6% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Marlborough
In Marlborough, rent runs 6% above the MA average, and home values are 9% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,747
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $570,533 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA
Unemployment in Marlborough
Unemployment in Marlborough is close to the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Marlborough Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute29.7 min avg
How Marlborough residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Marlborough, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 53% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Worcester Regional Airport (ORH)
Regional airport · few flights106k passengers boarded in 2025
- 28 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 48% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Marlborough runs 48% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
488.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
919.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Marlborough Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes Marlborough, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,400 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,700 |
| 2023 | 29 | Flood | $99,100 |
| 2022 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Strong Wind | $583,500 |
| 2020 | 52 | Strong Wind | $552,300 |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $263,750 |
| 2018 | 40 | Flood | $526,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Marlborough is about 3% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Marlborough, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
65
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Marlborough is about 3% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Marlborough has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.8"
Annual Snowfall
45.7"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
147
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
129
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 15°F | 3.58" |
| Feb | 41°F | 16°F | 3.30" |
| Mar | 49°F | 24°F | 4.59" |
| Apr | 62°F | 34°F | 4.36" |
| May | 73°F | 45°F | 3.67" |
| Jun | 81°F | 55°F | 4.16" |
| Jul | 87°F | 60°F | 4.04" |
| Aug | 85°F | 58°F | 4.43" |
| Sep | 78°F | 49°F | 3.89" |
| Oct | 66°F | 38°F | 5.07" |
| Nov | 54°F | 29°F | 3.76" |
| Dec | 43°F | 21°F | 4.85" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Marlborough
Marlborough has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Marlborough Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Westborough Behavioral Healthcare Hospital Llc
Psychiatric · 4.9 mi away · Westborough
Metrowest Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · Framingham
Emerson Hospital -
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.2 mi away · W Concord
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Marlborough
Marlborough's student/teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 40.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Marlborough (within 15 miles)
Quinsigamond Community College
12.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 6,447 students · in-state tuition $6,376 · 32% graduate · median earnings $51,435 (10 yrs after entry)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
14.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 5,447 students · in-state tuition $63,246 · 89% graduate · median earnings $113,513 (10 yrs after entry)
Massachusetts Bay Community College
14.7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,837 students · in-state tuition $5,976 · 27% graduate · median earnings $55,472 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,618 students · in-state tuition $70,957 · 87% graduate · median earnings $85,519 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,728 students · in-state tuition $58,560 · 92% graduate · median earnings $138,950 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 2,566 students · in-state tuition $12,220 · 57% graduate · median earnings $63,249 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Minute Man National Historical Park, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Marlborough
Marlborough has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Minute Man National Historical Park (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Minute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
14 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
21 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
22 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
22 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
24 mi awayLowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
24 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
25 mi awayAdams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
28 mi awayPublic Libraries in Marlborough
Marlborough Public Library
35 West Main St., Marlborough
Cities Near Marlborough
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Marlborough?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Marlborough FAQ
Is Marlborough, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Marlborough's median rent is $1,871/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $91,968/year. Median home value is $513,100.
Is Marlborough, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Marlborough's violent crime rate was 488 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 920 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Marlborough, Massachusetts?⌄
Marlborough has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Marlborough, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Marlborough is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,871/month and median household income is $91,968/year. The median home value is $513,100. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Marlborough, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Marlborough is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from