Compare towns

Townsend vs Acworth 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

Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Acworth has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
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.

MeasureTownsendAcworthHolbrook
People
Population
9,100
851Lowest
11,380Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
47.3±14.5Highest
22% above U.S.
42.8±3.2
10% above U.S.
Acworth and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.9%±16.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Acworth and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Acworth and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$82,917±$5kLowest
about the U.S. average
$115,210±$14k
43% above U.S.
Townsend and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$433,200±$22k
30% above U.S.
$273,000±$34kLowest
18% below U.S.
$465,400±$21kHighest
40% above U.S.
Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,352±$291
4% below U.S.
$1,094±$423Lowest
23% below U.S.
Townsend and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,031
93% above U.S.
$4,695Lowest
51% above U.S.
$6,105Highest
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 min
41% above U.S.
35 minLowest
31% above U.S.
38 minHighest
44% above U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Holbrook and Townsend 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 #136 of 282 in MA — #234 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Fall Mountain Regional School District Holbrook
High school in town North Middlesex Regional None in town Holbrook Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Lowest
—
14.3Highest
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.