What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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	Hanson	Holden
People
Population	10,660Lowest	20,064Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA
	Hanson and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Holden and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	58.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Holden and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA	$141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA
	Holden and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA	$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA	$1,648±$214Lowest 6% below MA
	Hanson and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Highest 7% above MA	$6,359Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	4.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#57 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Wachusett
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Wachusett Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	13.0Lowest
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.