Compare towns
Halifax 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
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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.
| Measure | Halifax | Holbrook | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
11,380Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Holbrook and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Halifax and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Halifax and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,105 about the MA average |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest 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 | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | 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 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.