Compare towns
Holbrook vs Ashby vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Highest |
3,211Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Ashby 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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 43% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Lee 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±$21k 40% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Lee and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Ashby and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,105 96% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holbrook and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Ashby 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 | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holbrook | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
U.S. 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.