Compare towns
Townsend vs Holbrook vs Charlton
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
11,380 |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
43±4Highest 8% above MA |
| Charlton 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%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Holbrook 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% |
18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook and Charlton 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% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton 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±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$117,587±$8k 13% above MA |
| Townsend and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA |
$427,500±$19kLowest 24% 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 |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| Townsend and Charlton 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 |
$6,105Highest about the MA average |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
84.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Charlton 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Holbrook | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Holbrook Middle High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
14.3Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.