Compare towns
Oxford vs Worcester vs Holbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the youngest population (median age 42).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Worcester | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385Highest |
831Lowest |
11,380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Worcester and Holbrook 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10k 29% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423 23% below U.S. |
| Oxford and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622 48% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Oxford 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 |
| School district | Oxford | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Holbrook |
| High school in town | Oxford High | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.