What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Holbrook	Charlton
People
Population	11,380Lowest	13,435Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.2Lowest 7% above MA	43±4Highest 8% above MA
	Charlton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.4Lowest 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%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Holbrook and Charlton 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%	37.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.1Lowest 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	$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA
	Charlton 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	$427,500±$19kLowest 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	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA
	Charlton 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	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±18.7Highest MA: 51.8%	41.3%±9.3Lowest 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%	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	12.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	13%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Charlton 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	#133 of 282 in MA
School district	Holbrook	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric
High school in town	Holbrook Middle High School	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

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.