Compare towns

Northborough vs Suffield vs Holliston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northborough has the most renters (16.9% rent).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Holliston has the most people working from home (31.1%).

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.

MeasureNorthboroughSuffieldHolliston
People
Population
15,750Highest
15,702
15,094Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+10.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45±3
16% above U.S.
44.5±1.7Lowest
14% above U.S.
45.2±1.9Highest
16% above U.S.
Holliston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.6%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Holliston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Holliston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
65.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
65.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Northborough and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,199±$19k
90% above U.S.
$119,472±$13kLowest
48% above U.S.
$159,817±$9kHighest
98% above U.S.
Holliston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$620,000±$24k
86% above U.S.
$407,500±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$650,300±$20kHighest
95% above U.S.
Holliston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,919±$269Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,424±$141Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,821±$225
29% above U.S.
Northborough and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,983
156% above U.S.
$6,456Lowest
107% above U.S.
$9,397Highest
201% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.1%±16.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51%±4.6
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±20.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Holliston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
18.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
31.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Holliston and Northborough 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 #35 of 282 in MA #57 of 149 in CT #38 of 282 in MA
School district Northborough · Northboro-Southboro Suffield School District Holliston
High school in town Algonquin Regional High Suffield High School Holliston High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Lowest
10.9
12.4Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.