Compare towns
Holbrook vs Worcester vs Avon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holbrook has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Avon has the highest household income ($131k).
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 | Worcester | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380 |
207,055Highest |
4,774Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
37.5±4 6% below MA |
| Holbrook and Avon 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Avon 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook and Avon 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% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.6%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA |
| Avon 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±$21k 17% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$509,600±$62kHighest 9% below MA |
| Avon and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA |
| Avon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,105 about the MA average |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,627Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.9Lowest 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 | #212 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Avon |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | South High Community | Avon Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
14.6Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.