Compare towns
Holbrook vs Windham vs Charlton
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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Charlton has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Windham | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Lowest |
16,038Highest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43±4Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Charlton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holbrook and Charlton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton 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 43% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$427,500±$19kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,105 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #234 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Windham School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | Windham High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
12.8 |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.