Compare towns
Sherborn vs Douglas vs Holliston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sherborn has the most expensive homes ($1027k median).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Holliston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Sherborn | Douglas | Holliston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,427Lowest |
9,207 |
15,094Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
45.2±1.9Highest 13% above MA |
| Holliston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holliston and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$152,267±$10kLowest 46% above MA |
$159,817±$9k 54% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$650,300±$20k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,821±$225 3% above MA |
| Sherborn and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$9,397 57% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Holliston and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.1%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #53 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #38 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sherborn | Douglas | Holliston |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Holliston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.