Compare towns
Ashby vs Reading vs Holland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Holland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Ashby | Reading | Holland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
25,612Highest |
2,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
51.9±7.8Highest 30% above MA |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.8%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±3.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$91,979±$12kLowest 12% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$333,600±$33kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,750±$209 about the MA average |
| Reading and Holland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,279Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #182 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Reading | Holland |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.