Compare towns
Ashby vs Brookline vs Holbrook vs Townsend
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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Holbrook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Brookline | Holbrook | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
5,736 |
11,380Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Ashby 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #234 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brookline School District | Holbrook | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Highest |
13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.