Compare towns
Holbrook vs Ashby vs Holbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Highest |
3,211Lowest |
11,380Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2Lowest 7% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
42.8±3.2Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Lowest 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% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
| Ashby 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 |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
| Ashby 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 |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$6,105Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.