Compare towns
Holden vs Ayer vs Medway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holden has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Medway has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
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 | Holden | Ayer | Medway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064Highest |
8,645Lowest |
13,436 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8Highest 4% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±2.3 about the MA average |
| Holden and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Holden and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Holden and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $141,923±$11k 37% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$173,750±$18kHighest 67% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,700±$13k 16% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$617,300±$21kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,575±$205 11% below MA |
| Holden and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,359 6% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$8,730Highest 46% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
35.3%±21.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Medway 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 | #57 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #40 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Ayer Shirley School District | Medway |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Medway High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
11.5Lowest |
13.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.