Compare towns
Holbrook vs Townsend vs Walpole
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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Highest |
9,100 |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below 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. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Walpole 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holbrook | North Middlesex | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
13.1Lowest |
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| 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.