Compare towns
Holbrook vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380 |
699Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above 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. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
| Charlton and Reading 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Charlton 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 | — | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.