Compare towns
Holden vs Easton 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%).
Easton has the most expensive homes ($581k median).
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 | Easton | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064 |
25,316Highest |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
42.8±2Highest 7% above MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
| Easton 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% |
19.7%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest 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% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA |
$124,271±$7kLowest 20% above MA |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
| Holden and Paxton 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 |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,648±$214 6% below MA |
$1,824±$161Highest 4% above MA |
$1,386±$88Lowest 21% below 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 |
$6,860 14% above MA |
$7,129Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±13.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
81.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Easton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Easton · Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
12.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.