What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).

Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Douglas	Holden
People
Population	9,207Lowest	20,064Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA
	Douglas and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Holden and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Holden and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	58.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA	$141,923±$11kLowest 37% above MA
	Douglas and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA	$470,700±$13kHighest 16% below MA
	Holden and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA	$1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA
	Holden and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA	$6,359Highest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	42.4%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Holden and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas and Holden 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	#177 of 282 in MA	#57 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Wachusett
High school in town	Douglas High School	Wachusett Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.