Compare towns
Oxford vs Holbrook vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Oxford | Holbrook | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385Highest |
11,380 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8 5% above MA |
42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Holbrook and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.6% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142 33% below MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,105Highest about the MA average |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Oxford 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 | #245 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Holbrook | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Holbrook Middle High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.3Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.