Compare towns
Holbrook vs Ashby vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Holbrook | Ashby | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380 |
3,211Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2Lowest 7% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
43±4 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Holbrook 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% |
43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA |
| Charlton and Ashby 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 |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Holbrook and Charlton 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 |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
| Charlton and Ashby 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 |
$6,034 about the MA average |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Holbrook and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Charlton 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | North Middlesex | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.