Compare towns
Holden vs Douglas vs Paxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Douglas | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064Highest |
9,207 |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
| Douglas and Paxton 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%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest 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% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Holden and Paxton 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% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $141,923±$11k 37% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$134,083±$8kLowest 29% 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±$13k 16% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$472,300±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
| Paxton and Holden 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±$697 15% below MA |
$1,386±$88Lowest 21% 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 | $6,359 6% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$7,129Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Douglas 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 | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Douglas | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.