Compare towns
Townsend vs Holbrook 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).
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 | Holbrook | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
11,380Highest |
11,380Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
| 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±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA |
$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% 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 | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,105Highest about the MA average |
$6,105Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7Lowest 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% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minLowest 27% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Holbrook |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | 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.