Compare towns
Holbrook vs Townsend vs Braintree Town
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 oldest population (median age 42.8).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Braintree Town has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | Townsend | Braintree Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380 |
9,100Lowest |
38,899Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.2 3% above MA |
| Holbrook and Braintree Town 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±1.5Lowest 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% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook and Braintree Town 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% MA: 47.3% |
47.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Braintree Town 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±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$122,214±$10kHighest 18% above MA |
| Braintree Town 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±$21k 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$656,800±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,024±$195Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,105Highest about the MA average |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$5,436Lowest 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.9%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Braintree Town and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
77.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
33 minLowest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #234 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #84 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | North Middlesex | Braintree |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | North Middlesex Regional | Braintree High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
13.1Lowest |
15.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.