Compare towns
Townsend vs Atkinson 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 most affordable homes ($433k median).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Townsend | Atkinson | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
7,267Lowest |
11,380Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Holbrook and Townsend 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% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Timberlane 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.