Compare towns
Ayer vs Holbrook vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Holbrook has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Ayer | Holbrook | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
11,380Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Holbrook and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,105Highest about the MA average |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Holbrook | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Holbrook Middle High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.