Compare towns
Townsend vs Needham vs Ashby vs Holbrook
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Holbrook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Needham | Ashby | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
32,459Highest |
3,211Lowest |
11,380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Holbrook 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 17% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
$6,105 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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 MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Needham | North Middlesex | Holbrook |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Needham High | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.9Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.