Compare towns
Holbrook vs Putnam vs Charlton
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 the most expensive homes ($465k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380 |
9,292Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Charlton 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holbrook and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton 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±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Charlton 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Charlton 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. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
| Charlton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,617 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holbrook and Charlton 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charlton 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Putnam School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | Putnam High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.