Compare towns
Charlton 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
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Charlton | Holbrook | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435Highest |
11,380 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4Highest 8% above MA |
42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Charlton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,587±$8k 13% above MA |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA |
$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415 22% below MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,105Highest about the MA average |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3Lowest 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 | 2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 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 | 13%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Charlton and Holbrook 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 | #133 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Holbrook | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Holbrook Middle High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.