Compare towns
Townsend vs Townshend vs Windham 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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Holbrook has the most expensive homes ($465k median).
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 | Townshend | Windham | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,538 |
594Lowest |
11,380Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest 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. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Windham 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Holbrook and Townsend 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% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Townshend 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% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% 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. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% 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. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
— | $1,094±$423 23% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Holbrook 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. |
$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Windham 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Holbrook |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
8.1Lowest |
— | 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.