What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holbrook	Townsend
People
Population	11,380Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest 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	21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest 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+	34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,210±$14kLowest 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	$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 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	$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,105Highest about the MA average	$6,031Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±18.7Lowest 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	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest MA: 62.5%	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	37 minLowest 27% above MA
Work from home	12.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holbrook and Townsend 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	#234 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	—	North Middlesex
High school in town	—	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.