What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holbrook	Townsend
People
Population	11,380Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Holbrook and Townsend 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%	21%±3.2Lowest 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%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	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 MA: 47.3%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	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 17% below MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 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	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,105Highest about the MA average	$6,031Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±18.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest MA: 62.5%	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	37 minLowest 27% above MA
Work from home	12.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holbrook and Townsend 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	North Middlesex
High school in town	Holbrook Middle High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.