What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Easton has the most expensive homes ($581k 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.

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

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