What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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.

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

Measure	Holden	Douglas
People
Population	20,064Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA	44±2.6Highest 10% 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	24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±3.8Lowest 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+	18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Lowest 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+	58.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1 MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$141,923±$11kLowest 37% above MA	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% 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	$470,700±$13kHighest 16% below MA	$470,600±$29kLowest 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	$1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% 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	$6,359Highest 6% above MA	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest 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	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	4.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Highest 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	#57 of 282 in MA	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Douglas
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	7.2Lowest
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.