Compare towns
Holbrook vs Exeter vs Charlton
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 the most expensive homes ($465k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Lowest |
16,151Highest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| 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 40% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$427,500±$19kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Exeter 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Charlton 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Holbrook 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | Exeter High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
12.1 |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
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.