Compare towns
Holden vs Hanover 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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k 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 | Hanover | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064Highest |
14,845 |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA |
41.8±3.3Highest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest 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% |
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% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $141,923±$11k 37% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,648±$214 6% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,386±$88Lowest 21% below 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 |
$7,129 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Hanover 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 | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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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.