What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k 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	Hanover
People
Population	20,064Highest	14,845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA	41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA
	Hanover and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanover and Holden 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%	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Holden and Hanover 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%	56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holden and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$141,923±$11kLowest 37% above MA	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,648±$214Lowest 6% below MA	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA
	Hanover 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	$9,342Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover 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%	4.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hanover 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	#69 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	South Shore Vocational Technical High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	10.3Lowest
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.