Compare towns
Holbrook vs Mason 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%).
Mason has the most people working from home (20.7%).
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 | Mason | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Highest |
1,451Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Mason 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% 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. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% 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. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Mason and Townsend 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. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 44% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
37 minLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Mason 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.