Compare towns
Townsend vs Sheldon vs Ashby 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).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Sheldon | Ashby | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
2,267Lowest |
3,211 |
11,380Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashby 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. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% 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. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 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% |
5.1% 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% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Sheldon 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 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.