Compare towns

Holbrook vs Greenfield 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%).
Greenfield has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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.

MeasureHolbrookGreenfieldTownsend
People
Population
11,380Highest
1,730Lowest
9,100
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.2
10% above U.S.
49.9±2.9Highest
28% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.2%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Lowest
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%
19.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Greenfield 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$115,210±$14k
43% above U.S.
$103,603±$8kLowest
28% 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.
$350,300±$17kLowest
5% 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.
$1,135±$79
20% below U.S.
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
Townsend and Greenfield 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.
$7,264Highest
133% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±18.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.8%±21.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Greenfield 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%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
44% above U.S.
36 minLowest
37% above U.S.
37 min
41% above U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Greenfield 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 — #136 of 282 in MA
School district Holbrook Contoocook Valley School District North Middlesex
High school in town Holbrook Middle High School None in town North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Highest
—
13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.