What is the cost of living in Marlborough, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Marlborough has an overall cost of living index of 138, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Marlborough has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Marlborough ranks as #54 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Marlborough ranks as the #59 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Marlborough, check out:
Marlborough Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Marlborough. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Marlborough is 111.
The Groceries index in Marlborough is 116.
The Health index in Marlborough is 189.
The Housing index in Marlborough is 118.
The Transportation index in Marlborough is 117.
The Utilities index in Marlborough is 115.
| Living Expense | Marlborough | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 138 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 189 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 114 | 100 |
Marlborough Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Marlborough, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Marlborough is $578,933.
The Median Rent in Marlborough is $1,871.
The Median Income in Marlborough is $91,968.
The Home Value To Income in Marlborough is 6.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Marlborough is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Marlborough | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $578,933 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,871 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $91,968 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.3x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Marlborough, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Marlborough Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Marlborough | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Marlborough Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Marlborough | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Marlborough Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Marlborough | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Marlborough Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Marlborough | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Marlborough Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Marlborough | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Marlborough SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Marlborough
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Marlborough. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.5x Marlborough.
Waltham, MA has a cost of living index of 163, 1.2x Marlborough.
Lexington, MA has a cost of living index of 209, 1.5x Marlborough.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.5x |
| Waltham, MA | 64,902 | 163 | 1.2x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.5x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.5x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.7x |
| Belmont, MA | 27,175 | 203 | 1.5x |
| Hudson, MA | 15,719 | 131 | 0.9x |
| Maynard, MA | 10,712 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Clinton, MA | 7,658 | 119 | 0.9x |
| Medfield, MA | 6,849 | 168 | 1.2x |
