Compare towns
Townsend vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
207,055Highest |
11,380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
| Holbrook and Townsend 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook and Townsend 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% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% 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±$313 17% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
| Worcester and Townsend 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,105Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Holbrook and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Holbrook |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | South High Community | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
14.3 |
| 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.