Compare towns
Townsend vs Ware 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 highest household income ($122k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
10,048 |
11,380Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
| Ware and Holbrook 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
| 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 23% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA |
| 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 17% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,094±$423 38% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,105Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7Lowest 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Holbrook 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 | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ware | Holbrook |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.