Compare towns
Townsend vs Middlesex vs Barnard 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 highest household income ($122k).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Barnard | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,943 |
1,211Lowest |
11,380Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Middlesex 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%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% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 51% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
| 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±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| 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 4% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Barnard 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Barnard 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 History | 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.