Compare towns
Mason vs Holbrook vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Holbrook has the most expensive homes ($465k median).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Mason | Holbrook | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
11,380Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Holbrook and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Mason and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
38 min 44% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mason School District | Holbrook | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.