Compare towns
Townsend vs Mason vs Pepperell 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Pepperell has the shortest commute (34 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 | Mason | Pepperell | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,451Lowest |
11,663Highest |
11,380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
| Mason 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holbrook and Pepperell 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% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Mason and Townsend 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. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Townsend 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 28% above U.S. |
38 min 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Pepperell 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Mason School District | North Middlesex | Holbrook |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | 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 | 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.