Compare towns
Townsend vs Berkley vs Holbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Berkley | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
6,829Lowest |
11,380Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
| Berkley 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Highest 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+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
| Berkley 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 23% below MA |
$511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
| Berkley and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
— | $1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
| Townsend and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 about the MA average |
$6,018Lowest about the MA average |
$6,105Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Berkley 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 | #155 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Berkley | 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 |
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.