Compare towns
Townsend vs Ware vs Pepperell vs Holbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Ware | Pepperell | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
6,369Lowest |
11,663Highest |
11,380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
| Holbrook and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 17% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
| 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 23% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
| 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±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,094±$423 38% below MA |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 about the MA average |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,105 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | North Middlesex | Holbrook |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | 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 |
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.