Compare towns

Dummerston 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

Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).

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.

MeasureDummerstonHolbrookTownsend
People
Population
2,090Lowest
11,380Highest
9,100
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
42.8±3.2
10% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Dummerston and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21kLowest
26% above U.S.
$115,210±$14k
43% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
Townsend and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,300±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
$465,400±$21kHighest
40% above U.S.
$433,200±$22k
30% above U.S.
Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$1,094±$423Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
Townsend and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,105Highest
96% above U.S.
$6,031
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2Lowest
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
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
38 minHighest
44% above U.S.
37 min
41% above U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #234 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Holbrook North Middlesex
High school 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 History 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.