Compare towns
Townsend vs Wolfeboro 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 most affordable homes ($433k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
6,571Lowest |
11,380Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 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±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Wolfeboro 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. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest 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. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Holbrook |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Kingswood Regional High School | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.