Compare towns

Dunbarton 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

Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Holbrook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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.

MeasureDunbartonHolbrookTownsend
People
Population
3,097Lowest
11,380Highest
9,100
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
42.8±3.2
10% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dunbarton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2Lowest
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
$124,348±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$115,210±$14kLowest
43% above U.S.
$121,528±$23k
51% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$484,100±$33kHighest
46% above U.S.
$465,400±$21k
40% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,166±$70
17% below U.S.
$1,094±$423Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
Townsend and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$6,105
96% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±18.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunbarton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minLowest
27% above U.S.
38 minHighest
44% above U.S.
37 min
41% above U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dunbarton 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 #33 of 120 in NH #234 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA
School district Dunbarton School District 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.