Compare towns

Holbrook vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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.

MeasureHolbrookLeeTownsend
People
Population
11,380Highest
4,576Lowest
9,100
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.2
10% above U.S.
42.9±1.9Highest
10% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Lee and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Lee 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%
22.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee 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%
50.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lee 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
43% above U.S.
$131,579±$54kHighest
63% above U.S.
$121,528±$23k
51% above U.S.
Lee 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
40% above U.S.
$480,600±$61kHighest
44% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
Lee and Holbrook 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.
—
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
Townsend and Holbrook 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.
$9,661Highest
210% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
38.3%±53.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Holbrook 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%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
44% above U.S.
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
37 min
41% above U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #234 of 282 in MA #3 of 120 in NH #136 of 282 in MA
School district Holbrook Oyster River Coop 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 10 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.