Compare towns
Ashby vs Brewer vs Holland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Holland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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.
| Measure | Ashby | Brewer | Holland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
9,652Highest |
2,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
51.9±7.8Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holland and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Holland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$91,979±$12k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$333,600±$33k about the U.S. average |
| Ashby and Holland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,750±$209Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,279 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holland and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Holland 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #32 of 133 in ME | #182 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brewer Public Schools | Holland |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.