Compare towns
Ashby vs Walpole vs Holland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Holland has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
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 | Walpole | Holland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
26,388Highest |
2,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
51.9±7.8Highest 30% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.8%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole 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±$9k 11% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$91,979±$12kLowest 12% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$333,600±$33kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,750±$209 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$4,279Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Holland and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #182 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Holland |
| High school in town | None in town | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.