Compare towns
Brookline vs Pepperell vs Holbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Holbrook has the most affordable homes ($465k 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 | Brookline | Pepperell | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
11,663Highest |
11,380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 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+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holbrook and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$6,105Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holbrook and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Pepperell 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | North Middlesex | Holbrook |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.