Compare towns
Townsend vs Holbrook vs Brookline vs Lunenburg
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).
Holbrook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Brookline | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
11,380 |
5,736Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holbrook and Lunenburg 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% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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. |
$115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586 40% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lunenburg 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. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Lunenburg 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Holbrook | Brookline School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
14.3Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.