Compare towns
Holbrook vs Newton 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%).
Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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.
| Measure | Holbrook | Newton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Highest |
4,836Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Newton 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±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%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest 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% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Newton 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±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Newton 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. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Newton 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. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton 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% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Sanborn Regional 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.