Compare towns
Holland vs Ashby vs Brimfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Brimfield has the most kids (21.2% 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 | Holland | Ashby | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,583Lowest |
3,211 |
3,705Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±7.8Highest 30% above MA |
50.5±3 26% above MA |
43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Brimfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Holland and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Holland and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,979±$12kLowest 12% below MA |
$115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$111,250±$22k 7% above MA |
| Ashby and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,600±$33kLowest 41% below MA |
$390,500±$30kHighest 31% below MA |
$389,100±$27k 31% below MA |
| Ashby and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$209Highest about the MA average |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,034Highest about the MA average |
$5,128 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Holland and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 12%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Brimfield 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 | #182 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holland | North Middlesex | Brimfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.