Compare towns
Holbrook vs Gardner vs Townsend
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%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Gardner | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380 |
21,148Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Gardner and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Holbrook and Townsend 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% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner 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% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Holbrook and Townsend 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 |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Gardner 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Gardner | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | Gardner High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
13.5 |
13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.