What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holbrook has the most homeowners (84%).

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holbrook	Worcester
People
Population	11,380Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holbrook and Worcester 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%	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,210±$14kHighest 11% above MA	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA
	Worcester 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	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester and Holbrook 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%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest MA: 62.5%	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	12.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holbrook and Worcester 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	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	Holbrook	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Holbrook Middle High School	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.