Compare towns
Holbrook vs Townsend vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k 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.
| Measure | Holbrook | Townsend | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Highest |
9,100 |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
39.8±6Lowest 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%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below 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±$22k 23% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% 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±$423 38% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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 MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 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 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.