What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Townsend	Holbrook
People
Population	9,100Lowest	11,380Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest 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
	Holbrook and Townsend 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%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	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 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%Highest 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%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% 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
	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 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	$6,031Lowest 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%
	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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minLowest 27% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	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	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

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.