Compare towns
Holbrook vs Worcester vs Charlton
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 most expensive homes ($465k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Lowest |
207,055Highest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43±4Highest 8% above MA |
| 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%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton 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% |
18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA |
| Charlton 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Holbrook and Charlton 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±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| Worcester and Charlton 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Charlton 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | South High Community | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
14.6Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.