Compare towns
Holbrook vs Glocester vs Townsend
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%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Glocester | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Highest |
10,221 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester 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% |
35.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| 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 40% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| 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 23% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,248Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Glocester 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | Ponaganset High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
12.8Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.

