Compare towns
Townsend vs Cornish 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).
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 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 | Cornish | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,816Lowest |
11,380Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$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. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% 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. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Cornish 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. |
$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%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. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Holbrook and Cornish 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 | Cornish 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.