Compare towns

Holbrook vs Lakeville 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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Lakeville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).

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.

MeasureHolbrookLakevilleTownsend
People
Population
11,380
11,944Highest
9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
MA: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.2
7% above MA
43.8±1.9Highest
9% above MA
40.9±3.3Lowest
about the MA average
Lakeville 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%
20.2%±2.7Lowest
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%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.3%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.1
MA: 17.9%
Holbrook and Townsend 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%
38.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
35.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.7%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Lakeville 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
$133,984±$11kHighest
29% above MA
$121,528±$23k
17% above MA
Lakeville and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$465,400±$21k
17% below MA
$565,900±$27kHighest
about the MA average
$433,200±$22kLowest
23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,094±$423Lowest
38% below MA
$1,884±$466Highest
7% above MA
$1,469±$313
17% below MA
Lakeville and Townsend 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
$5,536Lowest
8% below MA
$6,031
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±18.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.5%±18.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8
MA: 51.8%
Lakeville and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%
MA: 10%
4%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.5%
MA: 62.5%
82%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
30% above MA
33 minLowest
14% above MA
37 min
27% above MA
Work from home
12.1%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
15.2%±5.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Lakeville 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 #96 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA
School district Holbrook Freetown-Lakeville North Middlesex
High school in town Holbrook Middle High School Apponequet Regional High North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Highest
10.9Lowest
13.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.