What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easton has the most expensive homes ($581k median).

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	Easton	Holden
People
Population	25,316Highest	20,064Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±2Highest 7% above MA	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA
	Easton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Easton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	58.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,271±$7kLowest 20% above MA	$141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA
	Holden and Easton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$581,200±$24kHighest 3% above MA	$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,824±$161Highest 4% above MA	$1,648±$214Lowest 6% below MA
	Easton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,860Highest 14% above MA	$6,359Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.9%±13.2Highest MA: 51.8%	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Easton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	21%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Easton 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	#95 of 282 in MA	#57 of 282 in MA
School district	Easton · Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical	Wachusett
High school in town	Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical	Wachusett Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.