Compare towns
Holbrook vs Sheldon 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%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Sheldon | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Highest |
2,267Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Sheldon 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below 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. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Sheldon 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 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.