QUALITY OF LIFE
GREATER MARLBOROUGH REGION
While businesses make location decisions based on the cost, quality, and access factors most relevant to the type of business they conduct; residents choose where they make their homes based on their own needs, values and priorities. Common considerations include:
Proximity to retail, grocery stores, restaurants, and personal services
Recreation amenities (golf courses, walking trails)
This document describes these considerations for the City of Marlborough and the 7 town MetroWest region generally known as the Greater Marlborough Region. The GMR region consists of the communities of Berlin, Hudson, Marlborough, Northborough, Southborough, Sudbury and Westborough. You can use this tour to find the information you need as you consider locating your home and/or business here. More detailed information is available at the links provided.
- COST OF LIVING; Click on city name to see demographics on CityData.com web site. Tax information is from each community’s web sites.
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RE Tax Rate per $1000 | $14.80 | $13.89 (2011) | $15.51 | $15.49 | $16.14 | $17.60 | $19.21 |
Cost of Living Index (US =100) | 133.7 | 119 | 132.5 | 128.5 | 130 | 134.1 |
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- PROXIMITY TO RETAIL, RESTAURANTS AND PERSONAL SERVICES
Marlborough has a wealth of hotels, restaurants and shops including the Solomon Pond Mall, the RK Plaza and more. See more information in the Marlborough Hotels and Restaurants information sheet.
Many people value access to open space, which includes active recreation lands (golf courses, sports fields) as well as land preserved for environmental reasons (wetlands, forests, agricultural lands). The Marlborough Parks, Trails and Recreation information sheet highlights some of the open space you can enjoy in Marlborough:
Marlborough also offers recognized national, regional and sporting venues that range from ice hockey/skating to fencing, swimming and tennis. See the Marlborough Sports Venues information sheet for a brief overview.
Several entertainment options are regularly offered by the city of Marlborough as the Annual Marlborough Events information sheets shows.
- HOUSING AVAILABILITY
The Greater Marlborough Region has a variety of housing options to suit any number of lifestyles. Young professionals, families and empty nesters can find accommodations in urban, suburban and rural settings both affordable and elite. Some of Marlborough’s housing options are highlighted in the Living in Marlborough Homes & Apartments information sheet.
The housing market in the Greater Marlborough Region ended 2011 relatively strong with 6.4 months of inventory for single family homes. A balanced market between buyers and sellers is in the range of 6 to 8 months of inventory. The table below shows the market inventory by market segment for the Greater Marlborough Region. It shows a balanced condo market, an active rental market, and a buyer’s market in commercial real estate and land.
MLS Data reported by Imax Web Solutions
To view homes, condos, apartments and multi-families currently on the market click on Property Search at www.lyngorka.com/.
- SAFETY AND SECURITY
Crime is another important quality of life factor. People generally weigh the incidence of personal crime (rape, murder, robbery and assault) more heavily than property crimes. Crime rates per 1,000 of population for Marlborough and selected surrounding communities shows personal crime was well below the statewide average and below the two urban communities presented, Worcester and Framingham. In terms of property crime, Marlborough was below the statewide average and Framingham, and well below Worcester and Burlington.
2006 Personal Crime Property Crime
Marlborough 0.6 16.7
Andover 0.7 11.9
Burlington 1.2 28.1
Framingham 2.5 23.7
Hudson 0.2 9.3
Northborough 0.1 9
Southborough 0.1 5.3
Sudbury 0.2 5.2
Westborough 1.5 14.9
Worcester 8.4 31.9
State-wide Average 4.9 23.7
Per 1,000 Population
Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (2006 Crime Report); US
- QUALITY OF SCHOOLS
Many people value quality public (K-12) schools, either because they have or plan to have children or because they are home owners who recognize that school quality is an important factor in residential property resale value. Marlborough was rated the Best Place to Raise Children in Massachusetts in 2010 by Bloomberg Business Week. The information sheet Marlborough Schools and Education Opportunities describes education in Marlborough including regional schools like the Advanced Math & Science Academy charter school and Assabet Valley Region Vocational High School. Post-secondary education is also available locally from Assabet After Dark Continuing Education and through offerings from Quinsigimond Community College, Worcester Polytechnic and other local colleges.
- BUSINESS PROXIMITY
The Greater Marlborough Region is ideally located for business between Boston, Worcester, Providence and Portsmouth. It is an incubator for many small and medium sized businesses and host to several multi-national companies. The Marlborough's Industry & Economy information sheet features some of the 21st century industries that are located in Marlborough. The diversity of housing in and around Marlborough provides ready access to work, saving time and money. Access is family time so Greater Marlborough’s many amenities and educational opportunities provide real benefits for employers and employees alike.
The Marlborough City Government information sheet describes the local transportation network and features the government and history of the city of Marlborough.
For small and medium sized business the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation provides a business friendly link to City Government and local resources that support business. Additionally, several civic and professional organizations are actively work to leverage local personal and professional opportunities. Finally, we can identify business opportunities and commercial real estate for you at www.lyngorka.com.
Many commercial brokerage firms are based or represented in Marlborough. The Marlborough Commercial Real Estate information sheet features some of these so these resources can get you sited or help you find a new home base.
This page was designed to help you see the Greater Marlborough Region’s many hidden dimensions that you may like as you consider where to work and where to live. If you have any questions or comments please direct them to mitch@lyngorka.com.
