Compare towns

Everett 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

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Holbrook has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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.

MeasureEverettHolbrookTownsend
People
Population
50,045Highest
11,380
9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.7%
MA: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
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
21.8%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.2%±4.4
MA: 19.4%
21%±3.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Everett and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.3%±1.1Lowest
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+
24.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
34.6%
MA: 47.3%
35.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Everett and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7kLowest
18% below MA
$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
$610,000±$23kHighest
9% above MA
$465,400±$21k
17% below MA
$433,200±$22kLowest
23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$1,094±$423Lowest
38% below MA
$1,469±$313
17% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,880Lowest
19% below MA
$6,105Highest
about the MA average
$6,031
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.8%±18.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8
MA: 51.8%
Everett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%Highest
MA: 10%
7.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
84%Highest
MA: 62.5%
82%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1957
7 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minLowest
20% above MA
38 minHighest
30% above MA
37 min
27% above MA
Work from home
10.5%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Holbrook and Everett 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 #264 of 282 in MA #234 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA
School district Everett Holbrook North Middlesex
High school in town Everett High Holbrook Middle High School North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
14.3Highest
13.1
On TownTapestry
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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.