Compare towns
Holbrook vs Sturbridge vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holbrook has the most expensive homes ($465k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Sturbridge | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Highest |
9,960 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Sturbridge 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Holbrook 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 MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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 17% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| 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 38% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,105 about the MA average |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
37 minLowest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
7.7Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.