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Moving to
Holbrook.
Holbrook is an unincorporated community in Norfolk County, MA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
What it's like to live in Holbrook
Holbrook is an unincorporated community in Massachusetts with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Holbrook deals with home prices well above the national average, long average commutes, cold winters, and heavy snowfall.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High home prices
- Long commutes
- Cold winters
- Heavy snowfall — 70" per year
- Above-average rainfall
How Holbrook compares
Median household income
Median home value
What it takes to move to Holbrook
Based on Holbrook's median rent, home value and household income
To buy
$93,080
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $46,540
- Homes cost 4.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in Norfolk County is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Norfolk County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 34% below US
218 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1090/100k · Holbrook Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 46% above US
38 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 37.9 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 5% take public transit; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 21°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
35% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 35% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
2 public schools inside the boundary
There are 2 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Adams National Historical Park (7 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Holbrook's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and long average commutes. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Holbrook
All Massachusetts guides →Moving to Randolph Town →
3 mi away · pop. 34,878
Rent $2,103/mo · Income $109,573
Compare with Holbrook →Moving to Braintree Town →
3 mi away · pop. 38,899
Rent $2,024/mo · Income $122,214
Compare with Holbrook →Not sure Holbrook is the one?
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