Compare towns
Holbrook vs Windham vs Worcester vs Townsend
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 most expensive homes ($465k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Worcester | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,380Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Worcester 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above 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±$423 23% below U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 96% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | — | None in town | 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 | 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.